Meeting Professor Michael Twyman

 

Here I am, at the University of Reading, being welcomed by Professor Michael Twyman and introduced to his collection of chromolithographs – a dream come true. 

We began by looking at a few items he had brought from his private collection: illustrated magazines in various printings, The Boys Own Annual, a magazine with a chromolithographed insert at the beginning, and small sentimental gift books. We then proceeded to the archive, where we examined a selection of chromolithographs for domestic stained glass. After that, we viewed three books containing progressive proofs.

He recommended reading Instructions in the Art of Lithography, in which two proofs repeat the same shade of blue. Then we saw the box of progressive proofs, the machine-stepped images (which we had seen during our first encounter at SHARP 2024).

We then looked at the first record of a chromolithograph printed by a steam press. Michael noted how important it is to acknowledge the work of Jean Engelmann, son of Godefroy, who printed in five colours – a true paradigm shift in the 1840s. We concluded with a selection of rare prints in coloured intaglio and chromotypography.

The most exciting moment was when Michael showed Chute des Remparts de Jéricho, based on Jean Fouquet, printed by Lemercier in 1867. It is 5.7 m long, has 16 colours, and has 32 progressive proofs. It is breathtaking!