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Lot Essay
These views from the terrace of Somerset House and are closely related to the pair of pictures by Canaletto, The Thames from the Terrace of Somerset House, the City in the distance and The Thames from the Terrace of Somerset House, Westminster in the distance, now in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor (see W.G. Constable, Canaletto, Oxford, 1976, nos. 428 & 429).
In the distance, looking towards the City can be seen St. Paul's Cathedral, the spires of the city churches, the Monument and Old London Bridge. In the companion picture looking towards Westminster can be seen the wooden tower of the water-works, the Banqueting Hall, Westminster Hall, Westminster Abbey, St. Stephen's Chapel and past the bridge, the church of St. John the Evangelist.
Within ten years of his arrival in London in 1746 Canaletto had asserted a strong influence upon English topographical painting. Samuel Scott and William Marlow can be counted as two of his most accomplished followers and they would probably have seen his work in the collection of their patrons as well as in salerooms and shops throughout London. Thomas Monro and John Henderson owned a collection of Canaletto's drawings which they invited young artists to copy. Canaletto's work would also have been quite readily accessible to followers through his etchings and prints made after his work. Edward Rooker (1724-1774) engraved a version of Canaletto's View from the Terrace of Sommerset House looking towards the City of London, and its companion, View from Sommerset House looking towards Westminster, was engraved by another artist and it is possibly these prints which have established this site as one of the most popular from which London scenes were painted in the eigtheenth and nineteenth century.
Somerset House was built in 1547-50 for the Lord Protector of Somerset. Both John of Padua and Sir John Thynne have been mentioned as architects for the original building. The original building had a chequered history being given to successive Queen Consorts and let out as 'grace and favour' apartments, until 1775 when the house was demolished and the site allocated for government offices. William Chambers the Surveyor General was appointed architect and the building is designed around a large courtyard. The unembanked river used to lap against the South Terrace. From 1836-1973 the offices of the General Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages along with the Inland Revenue occupied the buildings and the Courtauld Institute Galleries moved there in 1990.
In the distance, looking towards the City can be seen St. Paul's Cathedral, the spires of the city churches, the Monument and Old London Bridge. In the companion picture looking towards Westminster can be seen the wooden tower of the water-works, the Banqueting Hall, Westminster Hall, Westminster Abbey, St. Stephen's Chapel and past the bridge, the church of St. John the Evangelist.
Within ten years of his arrival in London in 1746 Canaletto had asserted a strong influence upon English topographical painting. Samuel Scott and William Marlow can be counted as two of his most accomplished followers and they would probably have seen his work in the collection of their patrons as well as in salerooms and shops throughout London. Thomas Monro and John Henderson owned a collection of Canaletto's drawings which they invited young artists to copy. Canaletto's work would also have been quite readily accessible to followers through his etchings and prints made after his work. Edward Rooker (1724-1774) engraved a version of Canaletto's View from the Terrace of Sommerset House looking towards the City of London, and its companion, View from Sommerset House looking towards Westminster, was engraved by another artist and it is possibly these prints which have established this site as one of the most popular from which London scenes were painted in the eigtheenth and nineteenth century.
Somerset House was built in 1547-50 for the Lord Protector of Somerset. Both John of Padua and Sir John Thynne have been mentioned as architects for the original building. The original building had a chequered history being given to successive Queen Consorts and let out as 'grace and favour' apartments, until 1775 when the house was demolished and the site allocated for government offices. William Chambers the Surveyor General was appointed architect and the building is designed around a large courtyard. The unembanked river used to lap against the South Terrace. From 1836-1973 the offices of the General Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages along with the Inland Revenue occupied the buildings and the Courtauld Institute Galleries moved there in 1990.