Engraved woodblocks of countryside to be auctioned

An artist's original engraved woodblocks depicting landscapes in Kent are due to be sold at auction.

Multiple blocks created by George Mackley, known for his engravings of waterways and rural scenes from his home county, will be offered for sale in July.

Prints by the Tonbridge engraver, who died in 1983, are held by the British Museum and the National Galleries of Scotland, among other institutions.

According to Dominic Winter Auctioneers, which is selling the collection, the artist's woodblocks are "exceptionally scarce" as he often planed down and reused completed blocks.

The Gloucestershire auction house's director Nathan Winter said Mackley was "rightly regarded as one of the greatest British wood engravers" and the blocks "offer an extraordinary insight into his working process".

"Given Mackley's close association with Kent, this is also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate one of the county's most accomplished artists," he said.

The collection came from the estate of art historian and engraver Patricia Jaffé, according to the auctioneers.

The blocks are expected to fetch hundreds of pounds each.

The work Farm and Oast House was "not included in the standard reference work" of the artist and is an "intriguing addition" to his recorded works, the auction house said.

The collection, due to be sold online on 15 July, also includes blocks for works entitled In Dock, Weir and The Wagon.

A small group of Mackley's landscape paintings is also up for sale.

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