Art Museum Exhibit: Engravings

Written by Isabella Rusate

USJ’s art museum is currently hosting a selection of engravings by Robert Sargent Austin (1895-1973) until March 8th. Austin is considered one of the most accomplished British engravers and printmakers of his time. He emulated etchings in very fine detail and was even commissioned to produce portraits of notable figures such as Lord Nelson and Winston Churchill. His career was interrupted and uprooted by the tumultuous nature of war that plagued the twentieth century. Having just lived through World War I, Austin continued pursuing his passion by working as a war artist during World War II. Later in life, he worked as a professor at the Royal College of Art and illustrated books for his wife, writer Ada May Harrison.

Many of the pieces that our museum has acquired are strikingly beautiful and meticulously detailed, a testament to Austins dedication to the arts. I was particularly drawn to Alice Lush (1928) and The Puppet Master (1926). Please take the time to see this exhibit and be on the lookout for the next exhibit featuring photography from the Civil War running from March 21 – May 10, 2025.

Photographs of Robert Sargent Austin’s Alice Lush, The Puppet Master, Lambs, and Boy and Calf taken by Isabella Rusate.