Part of the Bridge at Blackfriars, as it was in July 1766

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Little is known of the early life of Edward Rooker. He was a pupil of engraver Henry Roberts, in High Holborn, while simultaneously pursuing a career in acting. Between 1748 and 1749, he engraved drawings after designs by Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren. He appeared on stage at the New Wells Theatre in 1749 and, by 1752, had joined the company at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. His career as an engraver continued with plates for William Chambers’ ‘Designs of Chinese Buildings’ (1757) and James Stuart’s ‘Antiquities of Athens’ (1762). He collaborated with Paul and Thomas Sandby on ‘Six London Views’, and again with Thomas for illustrations to Tasso’s ‘Jerusalem Delivered’. He died unexpectedly, at around the time of 50th birthday.

Places

England, River Thames, London, Blackfriars Bridge

Subjects

rowing boat, winch, shoring, engineering, construction worker, topography, townscape/cityscape, river, bucket, bridge (urban), sailboat

Materials & Techniques

engraving

Artist

Edward Rooker (1712 - 1774)

Title

Part of the Bridge at Blackfriars, as it was in July 1766

Series Title

Six Views of London

Date

published 1 December 1766

Medium

Engraving

Acquisition

Purchased from F B Daniell, February 1953

GAC number

2078