拍品专文
This painting is an interesting departure for Andrews, who is normally known for his maritime views. It also presents various interesting anomalies. William Railton's design for the Nelson monument was selected after a public competition, and work began on raising the 145 foot column in 1839. By 1844, as Fox-Talbot's photograph, reproduced in Rodney Mace's book, Trafalgar Square, Emblem of Empire, 1976, pl. 27, shows, the podium was still covered in scaffolding. Moreover, the bronze bas reliefs at the base of the column were not completed until 1849. The last feature of the column to arrive were the lions, designed by Sir Edwin Landseer in Baron Marochetti's studio and finally installed in 1867.
It will be noticed that the ground in our picture falls away towards the National Gallery in the background. Sir Charles Barry's scheme for creating a terrace in front of the National Gallery with two fountains in the square below was executed in 1840, a year before Andrews' dated this picture. The picture would therefore appear to be an artist's impression of how the square would look once the various installations were completed, including the later embellishments to Nelson's Column.
It will be noticed that the ground in our picture falls away towards the National Gallery in the background. Sir Charles Barry's scheme for creating a terrace in front of the National Gallery with two fountains in the square below was executed in 1840, a year before Andrews' dated this picture. The picture would therefore appear to be an artist's impression of how the square would look once the various installations were completed, including the later embellishments to Nelson's Column.