Gopsal Hall, Leicestershire, Antique Morris Woodblock Print, circa 1870

About this sheet

Palladian symmetry defines this antique print of Gopsal Hall, Leicestershire, a color woodblock country house view from Morris's Picturesque Views of Seats, printed by Benjamin Fawcett circa 1870. A central portico of columns supports a pediment whose frieze carries a lettered inscription too fine to read clearly at this scale, flanked by plain classical wings.

Small figures on the drive in front of the house give a sense of scale against the long, low sweep of the facade. The stonework is kept to a single warm buff tone, with gray used sparingly for shadow beneath the portico and along the window reveals, a restrained palette that suits the building's classical regularity. Trees close the composition at the left, and the lawn in the foreground is left largely open, so that the paired columns, the pediment and the regular rhythm of windows along the matching wings read without distraction.

This is a color woodblock print, or color wood engraving, printed from a series of separate blocks in register by Benjamin Fawcett (1808 to 1893) of Driffield, Yorkshire, one of the finest color woodblock printers of the Victorian period and printer of Morris's bird books. The series, A Series of Picturesque Views of Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, was edited by the Reverend Francis Orpen Morris (1810 to 1893) and published in London by William Mackenzie; this plate is from an issue of circa 1870.

This antique print of Gopsal Hall, Leicestershire, circa 1870, is an original Victorian plate removed from the book, suitable for framing, and a natural choice for admirers of the house and collectors of English country house views. The sheet carries full margins, with the title Gopsal Hall lettered in small capitals below the image.

This antique print is in fair to good condition for its age. The paper shows light toning consistent with age, together with a few small spots in the margins, and binding holes along the lower edge, several of which have small tears and small edge losses. Please review the images for further condition details.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed.