424 - W. WATTS (*1752) after BROOKS (18th), Southill in Bedfordshire, 1782, Etching

W. WATTS (*1752) after BROOKS (18th), Southill in Bedfordshire, 1782, Etching William Watts (1752 - 1851 ) after Brooks (18th century): Southill in Bedfordshire View of Southill in Bedfordshire, the seat of Lord Viscount Torrington, 1782, Etching Technique: Etching on Paper Impression Quality: Excellent, harmonious print with clearly defined lines Inscription: At the lower part signed in the printing plate: "_ Brooks pinxt. / W. Watts sculp.". At the lower part inscribed in the printing plate: "Southill in Bedfordshire the Seat of Lord Viscount Torrington. / Published as the Act directs, June 1st 1782, by Wm. Watts, Chelsea.". Date: 1782 Description: Wide-format view of a stately country estate in an open park landscape. An elongated, classically structured manor house stands in the centre of the middle ground and is framed by tall trees. Two cattle are lying on the left in the foreground; several horses are standing in the meadow in front of it and on the right. On the right is a tent-like pavilion with ropes stretched across it. Small staffage figures enliven the distance. The composition leads the viewer's gaze across the open lawn to the house and further into the cloudy sky. Delicate horizontal and intersecting hatching models light, shadow and atmospheric depth; dark groups of trees contrast with the light-coloured architectural surfaces. Source: William Watts (1752 -1851 ) The seats of the nobility and gentry, in a collection of the most interesting and picturesque views, 1779 | Book, Architecture Keywords: Country estate; Manor house; Park landscape; Trees; Meadow; Horses; Cattle; Tent; Staffage figures; Veduta; Architectural view; Landscape print; Sky; Clouds; England; Gutshof; Tree framing; Distant view; 18th century; Classicism; Landscape; United Kingdom; Size: Paper: 20,6 cm x 25,7 cm (8,1 x 10,1 in), Plate: 15,0 cm x 20,0 cm (5,9 x 7,9 in), Depiction: 12,3 cm x 18,2 cm (4,8 x 7,2 in) Condition: Good condition. Sheet slightly browned overall and somewhat stained due to age; wide margins present. Isolated small traces of foxing and ageing. Individual delicate scratches visible in the image. Marked irregularity in the paper at the bottom.