View of St. James’s Palace

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House

The print was made for 'The History of London and its Environs', a book by the Rev. Henry Hunter (1741-1802), who was a Church of Scotland minister and translator. The work began to be published in parts from 1796, but Hunter died before it was completed. In 1811, the publisher and bookseller John Stockdale (c.1749-1814) issued the complete work, which had been finished by other less skilled writers.

Edward Dayes was born in London and apprenticed to mezzotinter and painter William Pether. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1786. During his early career he worked as a miniaturist, later concentrating on the topographical landscapes in watercolour for which he is best-known. Thomas Girtin was a pupil of Dayes’ until an argument between the two seems to have led to Girtin’s imprisonment. Although not a pupil, J. M. W. Turner also studied Dayes’s work and some watercolours by Turner from the 1790s are virtually indistinguishable from those of Dayes. Towards the end of his career, Dayes began working in oils with less success. He was known as a difficult character with a fiery temper and committed suicide in London in 1804.
John Neagle was an engraver of portraits and sporting, biblical, genre and topographical subjects after contemporary artists and Old Masters. Born in London, he later emigrated to the U.S.A., where he died.

Places

England, London

Subjects

topography, weathervane, smoke, man, woman, clock, basket, rifle (military), soldier, gate, bollard, palace, sentry box, cobbles, drainpipe, window, chimney

Materials & Techniques

engraving

Artist

Edward Dayes (1763 - 1804)
John Neagle ( - 1822)

Title

View of St. James’s Palace

Date

Published 11 March 1799

Medium

Engraving

Acquisition

Presented by the Ministry of Defence, October 1964

GAC number

6692