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Vitruvius Britannicus, or The British Architect, Volume I

Print
1715 (made)
Artist/Maker
Colen Campbell (artist)
Place of origin
Britain (made)
London (published)

Engraving print on paper

Object details

Categories
Prints
Architecture
Object type
Print
TitleVitruvius Britannicus, or The British Architect, Volume I (series title)
Materials and techniques
printer's ink, paper, engraving
Printer's Ink
Paper
Engraving
Brief description
From Vitruvius Britannicus by Colen Campbell: Somerset House, Strand. Plate 16 of Volume I. Engraving, London, 1715
Physical description
Engraving print on paper
Dimensions
    Marks and inscriptions
    Ca: Campbell delin.

    Note
    Lettered
    Gallery label
    Anonymous engaver after Colen
    Campbell (1676-1729)
    The elevation of the great gallery at
    Old Somerset House, designed by John
    Webb, about 1662
    Etching and engraving from Vitruvius
    Britannicus    , Vol. I, 1715

    The royal palace of Old Somerset House,
    between the Strand and the River Thames,
    had been the scene of work by Inigo Jones in
    the 1630s. This print shows the 'new stone
    building' facing the river, which was added in
    1662, when the palace was refurbished for
    the Queen Mother Henrietta Maria. Its design
    was based on arcaded Italian palazzi as well as
    Inigo Jones's famous arcades at Covent
    Garden. As a model for eighteenth century
    town architecture the great gallery was of
    immense significance, not only for terraces
    but also individual town houses. Campbell's
    print has charteristically tidied up the
    elevation by adding side extensions of his
    own design. Old Somerset House was
    demolished from 1776 for the building of the
    present Somerset House, designed by Sir
    William Chambers.

    Circ.84-1967
    Credit line
    Acquired from B. Weinreb Ltd., London in 1967.
    Place depicted
    Somerset House
    Bibliographic reference
    Taken from Departmental Circulation Register 1967
    Collection
    Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
    Accession number
    CIRC.84-1967

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    Record createdJune 30, 2009
    Record URL
    https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1038671/vitruvius-britannicus-or-the-british-print-colen-campbell/
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