Original title
Vue du Pont de Westminster du coté du Nord de Londres
Description
XVIIIth century optical view in original watercolors. Original copper plate engraving on laid paper heightened with watercolor at that time. Published in Paris circa 1780, depicting a view of Westminster Bridge in London (England).
During the 18th Century, several renowned establishments in Paris, London (England), Augsburg (Germany) and Bassano (Italy) were specialized in the creation of these optical views. They could be viewed alone or through a zograscope, a wooden foot surmounted by a lens which enlarged the image and accentuated the perspective effect. They could also be placed in optical boxes, the spectator then looked inside the box through the lens. This distraction was greatly appreciated in the 18th Century in the salons of the bourgeoisie and the nobility as in the countryside thanks to the hawkers.
These etchings are nowadays exhibited in museums around the world and extremely appreciated by collectors and decorators for their historical interest and their high decorative value.
Condition report
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Westminster Bridge is a pedestrian and road bridge spanning the Thames between Westminster and Lambeth, London. The current bridge, opened in 1862, is the second on this site and replaced a bridge opened earlier in 1750 which tended to swing alarmingly. Westminster Bridge is an iron bridge made up of seven ornate arches, some of whose Gothic ornaments are due to Charles Barry (the architect of the Palace of Westminster). It is the only bridge over the Thames made up of seven arches and also the oldest of the bridges in the central sector of the Thames.
The dominant color of the bridge is green, like the leather of the House of Commons seats which is located near the Palace of Westminster near the bridge. This color contrasts with the color of the Lambeth Bridge which for its part is red like the color of the seats of the House of Lords and which is located on the opposite side of the Palace of Westminster.
The closest bridge downstream is the Hungerford Bridge while that upstream is the Lambeth Bridge.
The Galerie Napoléon is pleased to propose to you this strong water etching printed 244 years ago (around 1780).
As for all the antique prints in our catalogue, this optical view Vue du Pont de Westminster du coté du Nord de Londres datant de 1780 is dispatched worldwide within 24H in a Secured packaging, accompanied by its certificate of authenticity guaranteeing the name of the artists (draughtsman, engraver, editor), the impression process used (Strong water) and its date (1780).
In order to guarantee a perfect conservation in time, this strong water etching is dispatched, ready to be framed, under museum quality color passepartout (manufactured without acid in the pulp for a neutral pH) on a cream mountboard made from carton bois (also acid free & neutral pH), in a luxurious portfolio.
At the apogee of the mode for optical views, between 1750 and 1790, four European cities specialized in their edition: Paris (France), London (England), Augsburg (Germany) and Bassano (Italy).
Optical views are prized in very different social circles : pleasant recreation in aristocratic salons, the views are admired in beautiful and richly decorated optical boxes which are real works of art. The show was transformed into a real scientific experiment. But the optical views also entertained the people who were in a hurry when a hawker set up a box on a market and began to narrate the extraordinary events that had taken place in a more or less distant and inaccessible country.
There are three categories in the production of optical views.
With more than 20 years experience and a catalogue of more than 40.000 antique prints, drawings and historical documents dating from the 14th to the 19th century, the Galerie Napoléon, parisian antique dealer's gallery, is one of the world references in the field of antique prints,etchings and antique graphic arts.
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This experience allows us to guarantee to each one of our customers the authenticity of the antiques in our catalogue and the shipment of their orders within 24 hours.
Customize for free the color of your museum quality bevel cut edge passepartout (acid free & neutral pH) among a color chart of 23 shades.
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