Sundial, Queens College

  • About the work
    Location
    Country: UK
    City: London
    Place: Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall

    This print features the sundial in the Old Court at Queens’ College at the University of Cambridge. It is from a series of prints depicting aspects of the architecture and artefacts associated with the various colleges in Cambridge. Here, Hoyle focuses on the black and white patterned façade of the sundial, using the interplay between lines and numbers to make a strong graphic statement.

    A constituent college of Cambridge University, Queens was first founded in 1448. The college sits astride the River Cam with its two halves joined across the river by the famous Mathematical Bridge. The first sundial at this location dates back to 1642, when entries in the college accounts show payments for stone, gilt, painting, and other source materials. It was originally painted onto flat blocks of stone set into the brick wall.
  • About the artist
    Born in Rushton, Lancashire, Walter Hoyle studied at Beckenham School of Art between 1940 and 1942 and at the Royal College of Art, London, from 1947 to 1948. On graduating he went to the Byzantine Institute in Istanbul, an experience which he said was an important influence in his work. Hoyle taught at St Martin's School of Art, London, from 1951 until 1960 and Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, from 1960 to 1964. In 1964, he moved to Cambridge and taught at the Cambridge School of Art, placing an emphasis on printmaking. He remained at Cambridge School of Art until his retirement in 1985. During the latter period of his career he launched Cambridge Print Editions. Work was also commissioned from Hoyle by Editions Alecto, Christie’s Contemporary Art and the Folio Society. Examples of his work are held in the Tate Collection, the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
  • Explore
    Materials & Techniques
    block print
  • Details
    Title
    Sundial, Queens College
    Portfolio Title
    Cambridge Series
    Edition
    53/75, A/P
    Date
    1966
    Medium
    Block print
    Acquisition
    Purchased from Editions Alecto, February 1972
    Inscription
    below image: [left] 53/75 [centre left] Sundial, Queen's College [centre right] Artists proof [right] Walter Hoyle
    Provenance
    Purchased from Editions Alecto, London
    GAC number
    L726