Description | Contains over 4000 prints and over 100 books related to european architectural history. While the focus of this collection is architecture, it is diverse, and it is also significant as a resource of British and European history and art of the 18th and 19th (and to a lesser extent 17th and 20th) centuries. The main counties of origin are Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Flanders and Holland.
The historical aspects of the collection are obvious, but are even more pertinent because a large proportion of the prints show human activity as well as buildings. A few series depict events. Most of the main methods of print-making are well-represented: engravings (copper and steel), etchings, aquatints, lithographs, and chromo-lithographs. Fine early photographic reproduction is also present. Most of the prints are in good condition, including some with added water-colouring and the quality of engraving in some architectural prints is exceptionally fine. Some series may be considered more as art than of architecture, such as many of the British “picturesque” scenes of the 1780-1850s. Yet other 19th century prints, though architectural, have an expressive quality.
Includes 454 SubSeries. |