North East View of the Cathedral Church of Chichester

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Between 1799 and 1814, the artist and architect John Buckler produced a series of views of English cathedrals and churches, including this example. In 1849, two years before his death, Buckler explained that because of his great love of perspective drawing: ‘I never made any effort to increase the number of my employments as an architect.’

John Buckler was born on the Isle of Wight. In 1785 he became a steward of Magdalen College, Oxford. For seven years he was also apprenticed to architect and surveyor Charles Thomas Cracklow. In about 1801 he became Bailiff and Collector of Rents for Magdalen College in Freemason’s Court and Southwark. His post with Magdalen allowed him spare time, which he spent working on his own architectural perspective drawings. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1796 to 1849. In 1799, Buckler published an engraving of one of his drawings of Lincoln Cathedral. For the next five years he made a series of views of English cathedrals and churches. By the end of his career, he had produced some 13,000 architectural perspective drawings.
Frederick Christian Lewis senior was born in London; the son of a miniature painter. He was taught by his father and apprenticed to J. C. Stadler. In 1797 he entered the Royal Academy Schools. He married Elizabeth Exton and their children included painters John Frederick and Frederick Christian junior. He engraved Girtin’s illustrations to ‘Twenty of the Most Picturesque Views in Paris and its Environs’ (1803) and exhibited at the Royal Academy, British Institution, Society of British Artists and Old Watercolour Society. He also engraved Old Master drawings for Otley’s ‘The Italian School of Design’ (1808-23) and work by contemporary artists. Lewis served as engraver to several royals including Queen Victoria. He died in Middlesex, aged 77.

Places

England, Chichester, Chichester Cathedral, Sussex, West Sussex

Subjects

topography, woman, girl, basket, gravestone, coat of arms, churchyard, church, cathedral, church windows

Materials & Techniques

aquatint, coloured aquatint

Artist

John Buckler (1770 - 1851)
Frederick Christian Lewis (1779 - 1856)

Title

North East View of the Cathedral Church of Chichester

Date

published January 1804

Medium

Coloured aquatint

Acquisition

Purchased from Christie's, 20 February 1958

Provenance

Sold through Christie's, London, on 20 February 1958 (Lot 1); from which sale purchased by the Ministy of Works

GAC number

4555