Westminster and the Abbey from the River

Wenceslaus Hollar

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing by Wenceslaus Hollar. This is a small drawing of Westminster Abbey. The abbey rises tall above a number of smaller buildings in front of it, and some trees are visible behind. The river, with a couple of boats roughly sketched, is in front of the scene, and a tower is in the foreground to the left. Some colours are picked out in watercolour: the abbey is grey and brown, the smaller buildings are reddish-brown, and the river is green. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "15. WENCESLAUS HOLLAR (b. 1607; d. 1677) WESTMINSTER AND THE ABBEY FROM THE RIVER Collection of J. P. Heseltine, Esq. Pen and ink and water colour. 7.2 x 13.4 cm. (2 13/16 x 5 1/4 in.). Made up in a strip (3/16 in. in width) down the l. side. Inscribed in the artist's hand: Westminster by London. Corresponds in point of view with this part of Hollar's etching, the Prospect of London and Westminster taken from Lambeth (Parthey 1013, Hind 18), and is probably on that account one of the rare records of many similar studies of detail which he must have made for his larger etched views of London. One of the most exquisite examples of this master's drawing in pen and wash. A. M. H. [Gustav Parthey, Wenzel Hollar, Beschreibendes Verzeichniss seiner Kupferstiche. Berlin, 1853. A. M. Hind, Wenceslaus Hollar and his Views of London and Windsor in the Seventeenth Century. London, 1912.]"