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Gothic Cathedral Architectural Artwork - Original Chromolithographs [143951]

Currency:USD Category:Art / Medium - Lithographs Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Gothic Cathedral Architectural Artwork - Original Chromolithographs  [143951]
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250.00USD+ (62.50) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2022 Feb 27 @ 08:45UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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Original 1840s architectural chromolithographs of historic European Gothic Cathedral architecture, stained glass window masterpieces and dome ceiling construction. About 20 different designs, printed on folio size paper 14 in. X 21 in. with actual artwork 6-8 in. X 10-11 in. 6 designs are two pages in size. The original artwork was illustrated by famous architectural artists of the day, printed by famous lithographers, hand colored by the artists and reproduced as chromolithographs. This collection was first published in 1846 by John Weale.

The designs depicted in this art are found in world-famous Gothic Cathedrals in England and Belgium and recreated after the c1300 architectural plans held by the Catholic church, most in 1/10th scale of the original blueprints from St. Jacques (St. James) Cathedral in Leige, Belgium; West Wickham Church in London; and the York Minster or Cathedral of York in England.

St James's Church or "Eglise Saint-Jacques” in Liege, Belgium, was founded in 1015. The west side is built in Romanesque architectural style typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches whilst the rest of the church is in the late Gothic style, with richly-decorated nave vaulting dating to between 1514 and 1538. The St. Jacques Cathedral drawings in this collection include stained glass windows as well as drawings depicting the sub-purlin placement and painting of the dome ceiling. There are 5 drawings of the West Wickham Church, a drawing of the West Nave stained glass window at York Cathedral known colloquially as the Heart of Yorkshire, as the church was originally built in 1338. A lightning strike fire destroyed the roof in 1984 and the West Nave window was also destroyed.

The Publisher of this art, John Weale (1791 – 1862) was an English Architectural publisher, and writer of popular scientific, architectural, engineering and educational works, including Weale’s Quarterly Papers on Architecture 1844-45, London. These pages are from Weale's most famous 2 Volume work published in 1846: “Divers Works of Early Masters in Christian Decoration…With examples of Ancient Painted and Stained Glass, from York, West Wickham, Kent, and St. George's Chapel, Windsor; the Ancient Church and Sacrament-House at Limbourg; the works of Dirk and Wouter Crabeth, & also a succinct account, with illustrations, of Painted and Stained Glass at Gouda, in Holland, and the Church of St. Jacques at Liège. Volume Two containing lithographic frontispiece depicting the Remonstrance of the church at Limbourg…6 double-page chromolithographic plates depicting stained glass at St. Jacques, Liège; chromolithographic reproduction of a choir book page and manuscript illuminations in the possession of John Weale; 11 hand-colored aquatints depicting further stained glass; 5 zincographs after details in West Wickham Church; chromolithographs and hand-colored etchings from sacred architecture in York and elsewhere in England.”

The massive two volume work was co-authored by Weale and famous architectural artist, Essex, Richard Hamilton (1802-1855). It was heavily illustrated by Frederick James Rastrick (1819-1897) who went on to become a very well-known, celebrated Canadian architect. Most plates are signed as drawn by R.H. Essex or F.J. Rastrick, although other artists also contributed work, such as Emille Van Marcke, J.P. Schmit, J.G. Waller, R. Gould and Fredk. Bell. Francis Bedford and E. L. Bateman were the Lithographers noted and John Le Keux the Engraver. The majority are labelled as printed by Standidge & Co. or C.F. Cheffins and 'printed in color at 9 Argyll Place', or etched by J.G. Waller under the direction of C. Kram, or 'zincoy. 10 St Martin's Lane'. Most plates carry the publisher's imprint of John Weale and sometimes his address in London. Some plates carry the dates of 1843 October, 1844 January, March, April, October, or 1845, although the date of publication is 1846.

All the plates in this collection are in color. The artwork here is a partial set of the original plates, not complete. P. 84 of the complete work notes: "Divers Works in not entirely a chromolithograph book, but it is an interesting and ambitious production with some fine pages. In Volume I, the letterpress text is illustrated with copperplate engravings and etchings printed among the type, always a noble form of extravagance, as well as with wood engravings, the twelve chromolithographs (including some magnificent very large folding ones) were printed at 9 Argyll Place under the superintendence of Owen Jones."

The subject matter represented in this collection covers many genres and categories including History (Gothic and Renaissance), Art History (19th Century Great Britain), Pictorial Works (Lithographs, Chromolithographs, Engraving, 19th Century), Christian Art and Symbolism (Saints), Glass Painting or Stained Glass, Church Decoration and Ornament, and Architecture Detail of Churches in Europe, specifically, Liège, Belgium; Gouda, Netherlands; and Great Britain (Berkshire, Windsor, Yorkshire, York, Kent and West Wickham)

Condition ranges from very poor with holes and tears to fine. See high resolution images for exact condition of each piece. Printed on heavy stock paper that has become fragile and brittle with age. This artwork is worthy of professional restoration. Original, first edition copies of Weale's work are held by the British Museum of History, Yale Center for British Art and the Smithsonian. Like original copies of the complete work, these pages are rare and it is difficult to estimate value.


Date: c1840-1846
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