Rowlandson, Thomas & Pugin, Augustus Charles “Pass-Room Bridewell.” From "The Microcosm of London"

Thomas Rowlandson (1757-1827) & Augustus Charles Pugin (1762-1832). “Pass-Room Bridewell.”  From The Microcosm of London. 

London: R. Ackermann, 1808-1810.  Approx. 8 x 10 (image).  Aquatint.  Original hand color.  Minor stains in top margin. . Very good condition. 

In 1808, R. Ackermann began issuing his monumental, The Microcosm of London.  This work, which ran until 1810, contains some of the greatest examples of English color prints of the nineteenth century.  The quality of the prints is top-notch, and their impact on English graphic illustration was considerable.  The careful rendering, superb aquatinting and lovely hand coloring combine to make these prints most desirable.  The prints provide an unexcelled picture of London at the time, and thus their historic import is equal to their aesthetic quality.  Rowlandson, Pugin and Ackermann are three of the most renowned names in the history of British printmaking, and the prints from this series are no small part of the reason for their reputations.

Other available prints from The Microcosm of London:

Billingsgate Market

Bow Street Office

British Institution, Pall Mall

Christie's Auction Room

Court of Chancery, Lincoln's Inn Hall

Court of Exchequer, Westminster Hall

Court of King's Bench, Westminster Hall

Covent Garden Market, Westminster Election

Custom House, from the River Thames

Debating Society, Piccadilly

Dining Hall, Asylum

Doctors Commons

Drawing from Life at the Royal Academy

Exhibition Room, Somerset House

The Great Hall, Bank of England

The Hall, Blue Coat School (Christ's Hospital)

House of Lords ...

Long Room, Custom House

Roman Catholic Chapel, Lincoln's Inn Fields

Royal Cock Pit

Royal Institution, Albemarle Street

Synagogue. Duke's Place, Houndsditch

Water Engine. Cold-Bath-Field's Prison