Sir William Rothenstein (29 January 1872 – 14 February 1945) was an English painter, printmaker, draughtsman, lecturer, and writer on art. Emerging during the early 1890s, Rothenstein continued to make art right up until his death in the mid-1940s. Though he covered many subjects – ranging from landscapes in France to representations of Jewish synagogues in London – he is perhaps best known for his work as a war artist in both world wars, his portraits, and his popular memoirs, written in the 1930s. More than two hundred of Rothenstein’s portraits of famous people can be found in the National Portrait Gallery collection. The Tate Gallery also holds a large collection of his paintings, prints and drawings. Rothenstein served as Principal at the Royal College of Art from 1920 to 1935. He was knighted in 1931 for his services to art. In March 2015 ‘From Bradford to Benares: the Art of Sir William Rothenstein’, the first major exhibition of Rothenstein’s work for over forty years, opened at Bradford’s Cartwright Hall Gallery, touring to the Ben Uri in London later that year. Reference: Wikipedia
Portrait of William Rothenstein drawing in a lectern, three-quarter length in profile to left; globe in the background. 1897 Lithograph Print made by: John Singer Sargent
Reference: © The Trustees of the British Museum
Sir William Rothenstein (1872-1945) Rodin in his studio lithograph, on wove paper, signed in pencil, annotated ‘Lithograph’, with margins, pale light-staining, soft creasing at the upper right sheet corner, two fox marks, one in the right image, the other in the upper margin, otherwise in good condition L. 217 x 350mm., S. 337 x 420mm.
Sold for GBP 504 at Christie’s in 2007
John Singer Sargent (American 1856-1925)- ”William Rothenstein: (Dodgson 3)- lithograph on laid paper, signed and dedicated ‘a mon ami Helleu’ in pencil, one of only 6 to 8 proofs, paper watermark ‘VAN GELDER ZONEN, 21 5/8 x 16 7/8” Dodgson catalogued six lithographs by Sargent. There were actually two more that he was unaware of,making a total of eight. Several of them were printed in editions of 25. with this being one of the rarest in only 6 or 8 proofs. The subject of this lithograph is the British artist, Sir William Rothenstein (1872-1945). He was a painter and lithographer noted for his portrait drawings and prints. Rothenstein was the official artist of the British and Canadian armies during both World Wars, and the principal of the Royal College of Arts from 1920-1935, as well as a trustee of the Tate Gallery from 1927-1933. He is shown here making a drawing at the age of 25. Rothenstein, in turn, made a lithographic portrait of Sargent. In his cataloging of this lithograph, Campbell Dodgson states: Professor Rothenstein wrote me on August 31st, 1925: ‘Sargent made this lithograph of myself in 1897. I don’t tink there are more than 6 or 8 printed, but I may be wrong. I had three copies, one which is signed and dedicated, one I gave to my father, which my brother Albert now possesses; (and one to the British Museum, C.D.). Sargent, I remember gave a copy to Helleu, who liked the drawing. It was made in my old studio in Chelsea. This lithograph, of course, is the very one to which Rothenstein refers’.
Sold for $7,000 at Rachel Davis Fine Arts in 2019
William Rothenstein by Hills & Saunders albumen cabinet card, circa 1894 5 3/4 in. x 4 in. (146 mm x 102 mm) image size
Reference: National Portrait Gallery
Conrad, Joseph–William Rothenstein LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT OF CONRAD quarter-length, 1903, on green paper, inscribed by Conrad (“With friendly regards from J.C. Nov. 1911”), framed and glazed, not examined out of frame This lithograph is based on Rothenstein’s 1903 pastel portrait of Conrad, his first depiction of the author.
Conrad, Joseph–William Rothenstein LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT OF CONRAD
Sold for 500 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2014
Print depicting Ellen Terry, by William Rothenstein
Rothenstein, William (Sir), born 1872 – died 1945 (artist) Way, Thomas, born 1837 – died 1915 (lithographers)
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
