John Lewis has spent forty years assembling this rare collection of all fifty-five of Frank Benson's etchings in the hunting and fishing genre. The strength and subtlety of the pieces show off Benson's mastery of technique and artistry. Born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1862, Benson was well educated in the arts (Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and Julian Academy in Paris) and first achieved success in painting. Benson's oils and portraits were exhibited in museums and galleries and he was granted academic honors for his work in oils before he turned to etching in 1880. For subject matter for the etchings he chose his pastime passions, hunting and fishing. The book fully documents the etchings, how they were created, their focus/subjects, background and provenance, including their sale at auction. In the world of art, it is generally held that Benson will be best remembered for his etched work.
