The East Prospect of Burton upon Trent in the County of Stafford

Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (1696 - 1779)

Coloured engraving

1732

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Image of The East Prospect of Burton upon Trent in the County of Stafford
  • About the work
    Location
    Country: Switzerland
    City: Berne
    Place: British Embassy
    In the centre of the Staffordshire town of Burton-upon-Trent is the church of St Modwen, built in 1726 on the site of an ancient abbey, traces of which can still be seen in the market place next to the church. To the right of this engraving is the long stone Burton Bridge, across the River Trent which was made navigable as far as Burton in the 1720s. The increased prosperity of the town can be seen in the central depiction of a row of townhouses with gardens.
    Burton is famous commercialising marmite. Invented by a German scientist in the 19th century, it was introduced in Britain in 1902, by a retired the Swiss sugar merchant Frederick Wissler who headed the Marmite Food Extract Company.This panorama is part of a series of prospects of England and Wales, produced by brothers Samuel and Nathaniel Buck between 1728 and 1753. The brothers undertook tours around England and Wales every year, producing detailed views of the locations they visited. They would typically plan their travels carefully, advertising their work in the local press of the places they intended to visit before arriving, in the hope of attracting potential subscribers. The prospects were published over a number of years and were made available to non-subscribers, only once all the impressions had been collected.
  • About the artist
    Brothers Samuel and Nathaniel Buck made their names as leading British topographical draughtsmen of the 18th century. Over a period of 34 years, the Bucks produced several hundred drawings and engravings, including 87 engraved prospects of England and Wales. These are now important visual records of the appearance of British urban landscapes prior to the changes that occurred during the Industrial Revolution. In some cases, the places depicted have since disappeared or changed beyond recognition.
  • Explore
    Places
    England, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, River Trent
    Subjects
    farmer/farm labourer, horseback, topography, landscape C18th, townscape/cityscape, wheat, dog, horse, river, hill, forest, man, woman, girl, field, road, garden, park, house, abbey, church, sailboat
    Materials & Techniques
    engraving, coloured engraving
  • Details
    Artist
    Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (1696 - 1779)
    Title
    The East Prospect of Burton upon Trent in the County of Stafford
    Date
    1732
    Medium
    Coloured engraving
    Acquisition
    Purchased from the Parker Gallery, August 1964
    GAC number
    6663