To The R.t Hon.ble The Earl of Essex, This Print of S.t Paul's, from S.t Martins Le Grand;The Site for the New Post Office; Drawn by the late Thomas Girtin, Is with permission respectfully dedicated by his Lordship's obliged humble Serv.t J. Girtin.
Engraved by John Baily, No. 8 Nelson Street, Hackney Road.
London Pub.d Nov 24 1815 by J. Girtin 8 Broad Str.t Golden Square.
Scarce & fine hand coloured aquatint with etching, J. Whatman watermarked paper. 610 x 455mm (24 x 18"). Trimmed to plate on three sides and repaired tears.
A view of the dome of St Paul's Cathedral from a narrow and winding street, filled with shoppers, a large cart and brewer's dray. To the left a man holds onto a pawnbroker's balls to clean a first-floor window. Regarded as a slum (under the title is a short description of the area's history as a liberty, with its ''dreadful privilege of sanctuary allowed to Murderers, Robbers &c &c''.), St. Martin's Le Grand was cleared to make way for Britain's first purpose-built mail office. However it was a decade after this print was published before work started on Sir Robert Smirke's building with its Grecian portico.
See BM 1880,1113.4202 for a state of 1819, with publisher and engraver's addresses changed.
[Ref: 52153] £950.00
London Pub.d Nov 24 1815 by J. Girtin 8 Broad Str.t Golden Square.
Scarce & fine hand coloured aquatint with etching, J. Whatman watermarked paper. 610 x 455mm (24 x 18"). Trimmed to plate on three sides and repaired tears.
A view of the dome of St Paul's Cathedral from a narrow and winding street, filled with shoppers, a large cart and brewer's dray. To the left a man holds onto a pawnbroker's balls to clean a first-floor window. Regarded as a slum (under the title is a short description of the area's history as a liberty, with its ''dreadful privilege of sanctuary allowed to Murderers, Robbers &c &c''.), St. Martin's Le Grand was cleared to make way for Britain's first purpose-built mail office. However it was a decade after this print was published before work started on Sir Robert Smirke's building with its Grecian portico.
See BM 1880,1113.4202 for a state of 1819, with publisher and engraver's addresses changed.
[Ref: 52153] £950.00