The Splendid Fountain
on St. James’s Place
Basle – Prout, Samuel (Plymouth 1783 – Camberwell 1852). At Basle. The James’s Place with its fountain. With rich laundrywomen decoration. Colored lithograph. C. 1835. Inscribed: SP (ligated), otherwise as above. 44.5 x 29.5 cm.
The magnificent architectural piece here in the
de luxe edition of the first edition
mounted on China
in the fine original artist’s or publisher’s coloring .
Prout , belonging to the pioneers of lithography in England, found his call 1818 on his first journey on the continent:
“ His eye readily caught the picturesque features of the architecture, and his hand recorded them with unsurpassed felicity and fine selection of line.
The composition of his drawings was exquisitely natural ;
their colour exhibited ‘the truest and happiest association in sun and shade’; the picturesque remnants of ancient architecture were rendered with the happiest breadth and largeness, with the heartiest perception and enjoyment of their time-worn ruggedness; and the solemnity of great cathedrals was brought out with striking effect ”
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed. [1911]).
And already the contemporary Nagler qualified Prout’s architectural and landscape pieces as
“ a splendid decoration under glass and frame ”.
Some of Prout’s views then also inspired the parents of John Ruskin 1833 to the first lengthy tour on the continent, the landscape experience of which should have an enduring effect on the 14-years old. And by A Memoir of Prout in the Art Journal for 1849 Ruskin – as draughtsman and watercolor painter of especially architecture drawings himself “taking a high rank in the development of English watercolor painting” (Thieme-Becker) – will set just a memorial for Samuel Prout, who had become his model and friend, as by the Notes on the Fine Art Society’s Loan Collection of Drawings by Samuel Prout and William Hunt from 1879/80. – The margins of the mounting paper browned, the back-sided center-field feebly foxed without affecting the picture's China. Several mostly only small tears in the white margin backed from old.
Offer no. 15,524 / EUR 570. / export price EUR 542. (c. US$ 737.) + shipping
„ I have seen your excellent promo for this item (referring the Diego Ribeiro map) and I may be interested in acquiring it for a very important gift … “
(Mr. M. A. B., December 5, 2008)