[Views in London, 1753.]

RA Collection: Book

Record number

05/4633

Imprint

London: Printed for Rob.t Sayer opposite Fetter Lane Fleet Street, & Hen.y Overton without Newgate.

Physical Description

12 pl.; approx. 152×267 mm. (images); 235×360 mm. (sheets)

Responsibility Note

The plates are signed as drawn by Bowles (pl. 1-4, 9, 11), Maurer (6), Parr (7) or Boitard (12), or name the source-artist, 'Labelye Architect' (5) or 'Sr. Chistr. Wren Architect' (10). All of the plates present in the RA copy are signed as engraved by Bowles, except pl. 7, which is signed as engraved by Parr.

Summary Note

Each plate is captioned in English and French and numbered 1-12 top right, but no series title is supplied. The publication-date of 1753 is engraved at the foot of each plate with the publishers' imprint (except pl.11 which has no imprint line or date).

The plates show: 1. 'A General View of ye City of London next ye River Thames'; 2. 'A View of the Royal Exchange London'; 3. 'A View of the Lord Mayor's Mansion House London'; 4. 'A View of London Bridge'; 5. 'A North View of Westminster Bridge'; 6. 'A View of the Mall in St. James's Park, &c.'; 7. 'A Front View of the Royal Palace of Kensington'; 8. [missing from the Royal Academy's copy]; 9. 'A View of the Royal Castle of Windsor'; 10. 'A Front View of Greenwich Hospital'; 11. 'A View of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea & the Rotunda in Ranelagh Gardens'; 12. 'A View of the Foundling Hospital'. With the exception of pl.1 and 4 (both of which still show old London Bridge), these engravings are copies on a reduced scale of the larger, separately issued prints listed on pp.58-59 of Sayer and Bennett's catalogue for 1775 (reprinted London 1970). By 1775 the present series had doubled in number to form two 'Sets of Small Prints, very saleable and cheap', viz. 'Twelve Views of the City of London and Public Buildings therein' and 'Twelve Views of His Majesty's Palaces and Royal Hospitals, and other public Buildings in London' (see Sayer & Bennett catalogue for 1775, pp.86-87).

Copy Note

Imperfect; wanting pl. 8. Front pastedown inscribed in pencil with the initials of [Sir] Charles Lock Eastlake, who served as RA Librarian 1842-44.

Binding Note

19th-century half calf, marbled-papered boards; spine lettered 'R.A.' and 'Views In London. - 1753.'

Subject

Architecture - Public buildings - Cities - Great Britain - London - History - 18th century
Views - Great Britain - 18th century
Pictorial works - Great Britain - 18th century

Contributors

Louis-Philippe Boitard, draughtsman
Thomas Bowles II, draughtsman, engraver
John Maurer, draughtsman
Henry Overton III, publisher
Robert Sayer, publisher

Images from this book

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