Edward Millington Synge, Etcher
(b. 1860, d. 1913)
Etcher
From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913
Was born at Great Malvern on 17th April, 1860, the son of the Rev. Francis Synge, Chief Inspector of Schools, of the family of Synge of Glanmore Castle, Co. Wicklow. He was educated at the Grammar School at Norwich, under Dr. Augustus Jessop, and at Haileybury, and entered Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1882, where he took honours in the classical Tripos. He learned the business of a land agent, and in 1885 became agent to Mr. H. F. Locke King at Brooklands, Weybridge. He had always been fond of drawing, and taking up etching he joined the evening class at the Westminster School of Art in 1891. He spent his spare time and his holidays in etching, and had the benefit of help and advice from Sir Frank Short and Sir Seymour Haden. In 1898 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, and began to exhibit in the Royal Academy in 1899, sending his etching of "The Blacksmith's Shop."
He sent his first contribution to the Paris Salon in 1901, and in the same year resigned his land agency to devote his whole time to art. He went to Paris, where he worked for some time and illustrated "The Story of the World," by his sister, M. B. Synge. From Paris he went on to Italy, where he etched subjects at Assisi and Venice, and then on to Spain, where some of his best work was done. He married in 1908 Miss F. Molony, herself an artist exhibiting in the Salon and elsewhere. He died on 18th June, 1913. His portrait was in the "Illustrated London News" of 29th June.
Synge exhibited in the Royal Academy, the Salon, Royal Hibernian Academy, and in Glasgow and Liverpool. During his later years he did his own printing. He left 370 plates, among which are:
The Wheelwright's Shed at Etaples.
St. Francis of Assisi.
The Screen in St. Mark's, Venice.
Lambeth Bridge.
Villa D'Este, Tivoli.
The Gate of Justice, Avila.
The Bridge at Toledo.
On the Annamoe River, Co. Wicklow. Dry point.
In the Cotswold Country. Dry point.
On the Tay. Dry point.
Villa Borghese. [Petit Palais, Paris.]
The Mule Pump, Toledo. [Petit Palais, Paris.]
The Bridge at Cordova. [ Petit Palais, Paris.]
Among his water-colour drawings are:
The Thaw, Etaples.
Bridge at Villeneuve.
The Fountain at St. Jeannet.
A Road near Perth. Ex. Water-colour Society of Ireland, 1913.
From my Windows, Griman.
Vauxhall Bridge.