Imitations of Claude Lorraine, By F.C. Lewis, Engraved From The Drawings In The British Museum. Dedicated, By Permission, To His Majesty.

Frederick Christian Lewis Snr.
British Museum

RA Collection: Book

Record number

05/889

Author

Imprint

London,: 1837., Engraved & Published By F.C. Lewis, Engraver To The King, 53, Charlotte Street, Portland Place.

Physical Description

[3], 20 pl.; 550 mm.

General Note

The first three, unnumbered pl. carry engraved text.

Contents

[T.pl.] - Reference To The Plates - Subscribers To The Work - [Plates].

Responsibility Note

All numbered plates are signed as drawn by Claude and engraved by F.C. Lewis.

Each carries F.C. Lewis's publisher's imprint and the date, 1837.

References

A survey of reproduction techniques is S. Lambert, The image multiplied: five centuries of printed reproductions (1987).

On the reception of Claude's paintings and drawings in Britain see M. Kitson, 'Turner and Claude', in Turner Stud., 2:2 (1983), p.2-15; Classic ground: British artists and the landscape of Italy, by D. Bull et al. [ exhibition catalogue] (1981); C. Pace, 'Claude the enchanted: interpretations of Claude in England in the earlier nineteenth century', in Burlington Magazine, 111 (1969), p.733-40; D. Howard, 'Some eighteenth-century English followers of Claude', in Burlington Magazine, 111 (1969), p.726-33; H.V.S. Ogden and M.S. Ogden, English taste in landscape in the seventeenth century (1955); E.W. Manwaring, Italian landscape in eighteenth-century England (1925; repr. 1965).

Summary Note

The history of this group of Claude's drawings is described briefly in the 'Reference To The Plates': 'The original Drawings from which the following Twenty Plates have been Engraved, were brought into this Country from Madrid by Mr. Binda, they then became the property of Mr. Payne Knight, and were by him bequeathed to the British Museum. - none of them have been before engraved.'

The plates all show landscape drawings. The unnumbered vignette on the title-plate 'it is thought represents Claude's House, the Tempietta'.

The list of 'Subscribers To The Work' includes two Royal Academicians - John Constable and A.W. Callcott.

Immediate source of Acquisition

Presented by , J. F. Lewis RA in, 1867 (see 'Librarian's Report, RA Annual Report for 1867, p. 27).

Provenance

The front endpaper is inscribed in ink, 'Presented to the Royal Academy by J.F. Lewis R.A.'

Binding Note

19th-century red watered cloth-covered boards; spine lettered 'Lewis' Claudes'.

Name as Subject

Subject

Landscapes
Drawings - 17th century
Collections - Great Britain - London - 19th century
Pictorial works - Great Britain - 19th century

Contributors

Claude Lorrain, source artist
Frederick Christian Lewis Snr., engraver, publisher
William IV King of Great Britain, dedicatee
John Frederick Lewis RA, previous owner, donor