Author: Archer, John Wykeham.
Title: VESTIGES OF OLD LONDON. A Series of Etchings from Original Drawings, Illustrative of the Monuments and Architecture of London, in the First, Fourth and Six succeeding Centuries. With Descriptions and Historical Notices.
Description: David Bogue, 1851. 1st Ed. 4to. [xiv] + [132]pp. 37 hand coloured plates on card. With original hand coloured six upper wrappers (some soiling and one with sm. booksellers label) and five leaves of ‘Address’ bound in at rear. Two plates with minor closed tears to fore-edge, frontis. cracked along gutter hinge and taped to verso, light age toning, marbled e.ps., early double gilt rule maroon half calf with cloth boards, some scuffing to corners, some minor wear to boards, joints sl. cracked towards head, double gilt rule edged raised bands and gilt lettered labels to sl. marked and rubbed spine with loss across head, t.e.g. ¶ John Wykeham Archer (1806–1864), printmaker and watercolour painter. ‘... in his watercolours he favoured subjects of antiquarian interest and developed a lively style for recording the many topographical and architectural antiquities in London and its environs. By the time he had amassed a sizeable collection of these paintings Archer was approached by the collector William Twopenny (1797–1873), who purchased his stock and commissioned Archer to paint for him at least twenty watercolour sketches each year. Over the next two decades Archer worked for Twopenny, executing nearly 2000 accurate yet lively and colourful studies of tombs, architectural details, views of sites of historical interest, and scenes of London life and traditions. Twopenny was a supportive and generous patron: he was happy to allow Archer to etch some of these designs for publication under the [above] title ... (1851) and he also promoted the artist by displaying his work to private viewers. It was after seeing this collection that the Duke of Northumberland commissioned Archer to make sketches of the antiquities on his extensive estates ...’ ODNB.

Keywords: VOYAGES AND TRAVEL; ENGLAND


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