The South Prospect of Bridgnorth, in the County of Salop

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

This distant view or ‘prospect’ of Bridgnorth in Shropshire was drawn and published in the early 18th century by brothers Samuel and Nathaniel Buck. In the left foreground a shepherd with his dog stands by the side of a seated woman. The River Severn is seen passing beneath the bridge, which supports a gate and several small buildings. A ruined tower, virtually all that survives of Bridgnorth Castle, leans at a precariously acute angle.

In 1720 the Buck brothers published proposals for engraved views or ‘prospects’ of two panoramic drawings of English towns: Leeds and Wakefield. The success of the prints led to a further eight town prospects. In 1728 they extended the project to record ‘prospects’ of every remaining principal town of England and Wales. Each was drawn at a rural spot some distance from the town itself and, when possible, from a height. The prospects were published with a numbered key and descriptive text below the image.

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.

Places

England, Shropshire

Subjects

rowing boat, shepherd, topography, townscape/cityscape, sheep, river, hill, woman, coat of arms, field, lane (as Subject), bridge (urban), house, castle, church, ruin, tower, sailboat

Materials & Techniques

engraving, coloured engraving

Artist

Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (1696 - 1779)

Title

The South Prospect of Bridgnorth, in the County of Salop

Date

1732

Medium

Coloured engraving

Acquisition

Purchased from the Parker Gallery, August 1965

GAC number

7154