The South East Prospect of Westminster Bridge
1747. Copper plate engraving with hand coloring on cream laid paper with the Arms of France watermark (a crown in shield topped by a fleur-de-lys and the letters GR), 22 3/4 x 15 3/4 inches (576 x 400 mm), wide to full margins. Multiple vertical and horizontal creases from folding and rolling; none appear to be particularly hard, there is however some associated cockling. While there is some minor mat tone visible around the perimeter of the sheet, the extensive handcoloring remains extremely fresh and saturated in the intended areas. There are edge tears at each the right and left sheet edge (outside of the image area) due to an improper effort to mount the sheet to a mat. Otherwise in very good condition with all issues being consistent with age.
The print is wrongly titled "The South East Prospect of Westminster Bridge." It in fact shows the north prospect of the bridge, with vessels and passengers on the River Thames. Also included is a key to the buildings and the vessels. A vast of array of boats, of numerous different shapes and sizes, are dotted throughout the waters of the River Thames. The composition is dissected horizontally by the old Westminster Bridge, which is reflected in the calm, glassy water below. The recognisable buildings of Westminster Abbey and Westminster Hall are seen to the right of the bridge and the former building of the House of Commons, labelled ‘E’, is behind, in roughly the same location as the current building. There had been proposals to construct a bridge across the River Thames at Westminster as far back as the Restoration period of 1660 to 1700, but it was not until 1738 that an engineer, Charles Labelye, was appointed to bring the project to fruition. Westminster Bridge was opened in 1750 and was, after London Bridge, only the second masonry structure to cross the Thames. The present cast-iron bridge was constructed over a century later, between 1854 and 1862.
– United Kingdon Government Art Collection, 2023.
Item number: 1469
Price: $1,200.00
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