Drury, Susanna, after "The East and West Prospect of the Giants Causway in the County of Antrim in the Kingdom of Ireland"

After Susanna Drury (flourished 1733-70).  “The East and West Prospect of the Giants Causway in the County of Antrim in the Kingdom of Ireland.” 

London: John Boydell, 1777.  Each 16 ¼ x 26 ¾ (paper).  Engraved by Francois Vivares (1709-1780).  Each print has two vertical folds as originally issued.  Narrow margins as usually found on many 18^th century prints.  Faint scattered minor staining in both prints.  Else, very good condition.  Rare.  A/A 

In 1740, an Irish artist, Susanna Drury painted two gouache drawings (which still exist) of the Giant's Causeway in Ireland as viewed from east and west.  The well known London engraver Vivares executed two plates in 1744 which were published by Drury.  John Boydell, the famous 18^th century print publisher, acquired the plates, re-engraved them and issued his own pair in 1777.  A third printing was done in 1837.  Little is known of Drury, but her talent as a painter cannot be denied as she depicted the surrounding scenery and basalt formations with striking detail. 

Located on the coast of Northern Ireland, the Giant's Causeway was created around 50 million years ago by violent volcanic activity with the unique basalt formations being created as the mass cooled and then cracked.  Legend has it that these columns were created by an Irish giant who built a causeway in order to fight a Scottish giant.