458 - W. WATTS (*1752) after HEARNE (*1744), Ranston Country House in Dorsetshire, 1779, Etching

W. WATTS (*1752) after HEARNE (*1744), Ranston Country House in Dorsetshire, 1779, Etching William Watts (1752 - 1851 ) after Thomas Hearne (1744 - 1817 ): Ranston country estate in Dorsetshire Park landscape with the Ranston country estate in Dorsetshire and figures by the water, 1779, Etching Technique: Etching on Paper Impression Quality: Excellent, harmonious print. Inscription: At the lower part signed in the printing plate: "T. Hearne del. / W. Watts sculp.". At the lower part inscribed in the printing plate: "Ranston, in Dorsetshire, the Seat of Thos. Ryves Esqr. ; Published as the Act directs, April 1 1779, by W. Watts, Kents Row, Chelsea". Date: 1779 Description: Rectangular print with a wide park landscape and a Neoclassical country house in the left middle ground. Tall trees frame the scene to the side and form a dark backdrop around the light-coloured open space. A body of water or canal runs in the foreground; in it lies a small boat with a seated figure, next to it a child on the bank. On the left, a couple is walking. Other small staffage figures enliven the background. Delicate lines, dense hatching and graduated tonal values model the treetops, architecture and water surface. The line of sight runs from the shore over the house into the open depths. The motif combines landscape vedute, property representation and orderly park nature. 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: Landscape; Park; Country house; Manor house; Trees; Waters; Boat; Staffage figures; Strollers; Child; Veduta; Architecture; Shore; Canal; Neoclassical facade; Tree framing; English country estate; Print graphic; 18th century; Classicism; Landscape; United Kingdom; Size: Paper: 20,0 cm x 24,5 cm (7,9 x 9,6 in), Plate: 16,3 cm x 19,8 cm (6,4 x 7,8 in), Depiction: 13,0 cm x 17,9 cm (5,1 x 7 in) Condition: Good condition. Slightly browned sheet with minor marginal age toning and individual small stains; wide margins present. Pale liquid stain lower left.