Green and Jukes after Samuel Grimm - 1779 Engraving Salisbury Cathedral

Description

A very rare and large engraving with aquatint done by a veritable catalogue of the top artists of the period. Engraved by Valentine Green (1739–1813) and Francis Jukes (1745–1812) after a drawing by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm (1733–1794). The engraving shows an impressive architectural view of the Salisbury Cathedral. The publisher's, artist's and engraver's details have been inscribed in plate at the lower edge. On laid .

Condition

The condition is typical for a picture of this age including some discolouration. The edges are slightly ragged with five 1cm vertical tears at the lower edge and two tears at the top edge.

Size

37.6 x 45.3cm (14.8" x 17.8")
Sheet: 45.7 x 50.6cm (18" x 19.9")

Artist Biography

Valentine Green (October 3, 1739 – July 29, 1813) was a British engraver and print publisher. Green trained under Robert Hancock, a Worcester engraver, after which he moved to London and began working as a mezzotint engraver. He began to exhibit with the Incorporated Society of Artists from 1766, became a fellow a year later and a director in 1771. He was appointed mezzotint engraver to the king in 1773, and the following year was elected an associate engraver with the Royal Academy. Throughout the 1770s and 1780s, Green's engraving practice flourished. In the 1790s, however, several of his international speculations failed and in 1798 he was declared bankrupt. In 1805 he accepted the role of keeper of the British Institution, a post he held until his death.

Francis Jukes (1745–1812) was a prolific engraver and publisher, chiefly known for his topographical and shipping prints, the majority in aquatint. He worked alongside the great illustrators of the late eighteenth century. He contributed numerous plates to various publications of rural scenes. His early prints were published in collaboration with Valentine Green, and later worked in collaboration with the engraver and publisher Robert Pollard.

Samuel Hieronymus Grimm (18 January 1733 – 14 April 1794) was an 18th-century Swiss landscape artist who worked in oils (until 1764), watercolours, and pen and ink media.
Grimm specialised in documenting historical scenes and events; he also illustrated books such as Gilbert White's The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne.