Creation Date
1787
Era
1600-1800
Medium
Original hand-colored Aquatint; modern reproduction
Dimensions
In frame: 20 x 26 in. (50.8 x 66.04 cm)
Not in frame: 14 8/16 x 20 in. (36.83 x 50.8 cm)
Credit Line
Long-term Loan from the Estate of Boris Blick, 2015
Accession Number
2015.59
Description
This image shows Bloomsbury Square at the height of its popularity. Men and women walk about in the day's fashions; cows represent the pastoral atmosphere that attractedd wealthy inhabitants to the neighborhood. The print was dedicared to Francis Russel, 5th Duke of Bedford, who was instrumental in developing Bloomsbury and the surrounding area as fashionable places to live. As Jane Austen writes in her novel Emma, the Bloomsbury area was "very different from almost all the rest. We are so very airy!"
Provenance
TO HIS GRACE FRANCIS, DUKE OF BEDFORD, MARQUIS OF TAVISTOCK &c &c. THIS VIEW OF BLOOMSBURY SQUARE IS WITH THE GREATEST RESPECT INSCRIBED BY HIS GRACES OBEDIENT & OBLIGED SERVANTS ROB. POLLARD, & FRA.JUKES. ROBERT THES (1758-1802), SKETCH. Engraved by ROBERT Pollard (1755-1838) & FRANCIS. Jukes (1745-1812)
Preview
Keywords
british print, aquatint, edward dayes, 2015.59