Westminster Abbey, the North Front and Western Towers, 1804

About this sheet

This is an original antique copper engraving, uncolored, lettered "Westminster Abbey." The abbey is seen from the north. At the left the north transept rises with its great rose window, pinnacles and deep Gothic portals, the buttressed nave runs back through the middle of the view, and the two western towers stand at the right. Mature trees grow in front of the nave and at the right edge, a tall post stands in the open ground, and small figures walk across the paved area before the railings, giving scale to the height of the building.

The title is engraved in script below the image, and the credit "Drawn & Engraved by S. Rawle" is at lower right; Edward Pugh is not named on this plate. Beneath the title is the imprint "Published Augt 14 1804 by Richard Phillips, 71, St Paul's Church Yard."

The plate comes from Modern London; Being the History and Present State of the British Metropolis, printed for Richard Phillips, No. 71, St. Paul's Church-Yard, by C. Mercier and Co., Northumberland-court, Strand, in 1804, and "illustrated with numerous copper plates." Its plates were engraved on copper by several London engravers, each of whom signed his own work. Samuel Rawle both drew and engraved this view; the western towers he shows were completed to the design of Nicholas Hawksmoor in the 1740s.

A fine architectural plate for a library, study or collection of Gothic church views.

Condition: Light handling wear to the top left and bottom right corners; minor nicks along the top edge. Light, uneven toning, slightly darker towards the edges. Scattered light foxing in the margin.

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.