“Tender Moments,” Mary Vickers, 1970s sepia lithograph, 26x20 in., signed and numbered 200/200.

“Tender Moments,” Mary Vickers, 1970s sepia lithograph, 26x20 in., signed and numbered 200/200.

A rare, fully editioned Mary Vickers lithograph, Tender Moments presents an intimate and emotionally charged portrayal of lovers embraced in a quiet moment. Executed in soft sepia tones with Vickers’ signature sensitivity, the work exemplifies her ability to elevate human connection into poetic visual form. This impression—numbered 200/200—is the final print in the edition and highly collectible.

Artwork Description

In Tender Moments, Vickers turns her Romantic, expressive hand toward the adult figure, capturing a private embrace between two lovers reclining on soft drapery. The nude forms are rendered with a combination of anatomical accuracy and emotional tenderness—hallmarks of Vickers’ early figurative training in London and New York.

The sepia palette adds warmth and softness to the scene, allowing the viewer to feel the closeness, vulnerability, and trust shared between the figures. Vickers’ crosshatched shading and fluid stroke patterns shape the contours of bodies, fabric, and shadows, creating a composition that is sensual without being explicit—more lyrical than provocative.

This impression is numbered 200/200, making it the final print in the edition. Final-number prints hold special interest for collectors due to their position at the conclusion of the print run and their symbolic completeness. Works from this more mature thematic branch of Vickers’ oeuvre remain less common on the market and are increasingly sought after.

Artist Biography

Mary Vickers (British, mid-20th century) is a figurative artist best known for her emotionally resonant drawings and lithographs depicting children, families, quiet domestic moments, and tender human relationships. Her work became widely collected in the 1970s and early 1980s, especially in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, where her limited-edition prints developed a devoted following.

Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

Born in England in the 1940s, Vickers showed an early aptitude for drawing, particularly for rendering expressive faces and the subtle gestures of children. She was trained in traditional draftsmanship — a foundation that shaped the delicate, controlled linework seen throughout her lithographs. Although not formally affiliated with one academy, her early influences included British illustrators, Victorian genre painters, and contemporary figurative realists whose work emphasized emotional storytelling.

Development of Her Style

By the late 1960s, Vickers had developed the artistic language that would define her career:

• Sepia-toned drawing and lithography

• Soft hand-coloring applied to selected editions

• Narratives centered on childhood innocence, family bonds, and intimate daily moments

• Highly detailed linework combined with atmospheric shading

Her subjects—children fishing, playing, daydreaming, gardening, or interacting with parents and grandparents—captured universal emotional themes. While sentimental, her work is fundamentally rooted in keen observation, balancing technical precision with tenderness.

Professional Career and International Recognition

In the early 1970s, Vickers’ work came to the attention of the Mitch Morse Gallery, an American fine art publisher specializing in limited-edition lithographs. Recognizing the unique appeal of her figurative style, the gallery entered into an exclusive publishing arrangement with her.

For the next decade:

• All of Mary Vickers’ limited-edition lithographs were published exclusively by Mitch Morse Gallery.

• The gallery supervised edition sizes, printing quality, signing, and hand-coloring.

• Vickers’ work was widely distributed through fine art galleries, framing boutiques, and national art shows across the U.S. and Europe.

This partnership ensured consistency, authenticity, and proper documentation—one reason her editions remain highly collectible today.

Technique and Creative Process

Vickers worked primarily in graphite, sepia pencil, and lithographic crayon, creating highly refined drawings that printers transferred to lithographic plates. Many editions were issued in two formats:

1. Standard lithographs (uncolored)

2. Hand-colored lithographs (painted individually with watercolor or light washes)

Her hand-coloring was subtle, never overpowering the drawing—always reinforcing mood and narrative. Edition sizes were typically 200–275, along with a small number of Artist’s Proofs (AP).

Themes and Artistic Vision

Collectors respond strongly to Vickers’ work because it captures universal human experiences:

• Childhood wonder and formative experiences

• Family relationships across generations

• Quiet reflection and interior emotional worlds

• The poetic beauty of everyday life

Rather than idealizing children, she portrayed them with psychological honesty—thoughtful, curious, sometimes lonely, sometimes joyful.

Legacy and Collector Significance

Today, Mary Vickers’ lithographs are sought after for:

• Their technical excellence

• Their emotional accessibility

• The consistency and integrity of her limited editions

• Their nostalgic cultural value as icons of 1970s figurative art

Her prints remain staples in vintage fine art collections and continue to be exhibited in private galleries globally. The involvement of Mitch Morse Gallery ensures clear provenance and secure attribution for collectors.

Mary Vickers (British/American, b. early 1940s)
Tender Moments, 1970s. Lithograph on paper, 26 x 20 in. Signed and numbered 200/200. A sepia-toned, intimate reclining couple rendered with Vickers’ trademark Romantic sensitivity. Rare final-number impression.

CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Mary Vickers
Title: Tender Moments
Date: 1970s
Medium: Lithograph
Dimensions: 26 x 20 inches
Edition: Numbered 200/200
Signature: Signed lower right; edition mark lower left
Provenance: Acquired in the United States; Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
Condition: Excellent
Authenticity: Verified original lithograph by Mary Vickers
Estimated Market Value: See price ranges below
Issued By: Artfind Gallery, Washington DC

Provenance

Published by Mitch Morse Gallery (exclusive publisher of Mary Vickers).
Acquired directly from Mitch Morse Gallery.
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.