Three 19th C. Hand Colored Engravings of London Architecture by T. Shepherd, 1828

Description

A set of three hand-colored engravings from "Metropolitan Improvements; or London in the Nineteenth Century", published in London, England in … more A set of three hand-colored engravings from "Metropolitan Improvements; or London in the Nineteenth Century", published in London, England in 1828. The scenes were drawn by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd, the British master recorder of nineteenth-century London, and engraved by M. Barrenger.

The first plate depicts a "Building on the East Side of Regent Street" in a stretch of Regent Street between Tenison Court and Beak Street. At the time it was the premises of Robert Burton, wax and tallow chandler at no. 172, whose sign is visible on the corner of the Court. It was engraved by Robert Acon (1792-1880).

The second plate entitled "The N.W. Facade of the New Covent Garden Market", engraved by W. Watkins, depicts a front view of the new Covent Garden Market, with colonnade and ballustrade at the top. The outdoor market is taking place in the foreground.

The third plate is entitled "Coopers' Hall, Basinghall St.", engraved by John J. Hinchliff, depicts old Basinghall Street with pedestrians and a horse drawn cart. The old hall was present at the time but was demolished in 1865.

These attractive antique hand-colored engravings are identically framed in black wood with thick off-white museum style mats and glazed with UV conservation glass. They are in very good condition.

Thomas Hosmer Shepherd (1793-1864) was a British topographical watercolour artist, who was well known for his architectural paintings. He was initially employed to illustrate architecture in London, and later Edinburgh, Bath and Bristol. His focus was mostly on topographical scenes characterized by attention to detail. His lifelike scenes often contained people, carriages and horses in their daily activities around the architecture that was the focus of Shepherd's scenes. His first real success came with the publication of Metropolitan Improvements, a publication of focused on the recent modernization of London architecture. Among the museums holding Shepherd’s engravings are: The British Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Library of Congress and The Royal Academy of Art. less