Description: CASTLE OF CHILLON - LAKE OF GENEVA ~ Switzerland Artist: Samuel Prout ____________ Engraver: James B. Allen Note: the title in the table above is printed below the engraving CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE 18th CENTURY ANTIQUE PRINTS LIKE THIS ONE!! THIS PRINT IS FROM THE EARLY 1840s & IS NOT A MODERN REPRODUCTION IN ANY WAY! FROM THE ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: The Chateau de Chillon stands in the waters of the Lake of Geneva. Before it rise the rugged Alps; behind, a noisy cataract foams and falls. The early reformers were imprisoned in its dungeons; and from a beam in one of the vaults, now black with age, martyrs were frequently executed. Seven pillars, to which rings and chains are fastened, stand in the cells; and, the worn pavement tells how oft the injured Bonnivard had paced its marble surface during his years of solitary confinement. Near to this unfrequented spot, Rousseau, places the scene of that catastrophe which Closes the story of his heroine Eloise. Charles V., Duke of Savoy, reduced Chillon in 1536, when he found vast treasures, along with many captives pining in its dungeons, whom he set at liberty. Amongst them was the good Bonnivard. On the pillar to which this unfortunate man was chained, is cut the napie of one whose beautiful poem (The Prisoner of Chillon) has enhanced the interest of this. dreary Spot, and will effectually preserve the names both of Chillon and of Bonnivard from oblivion. The following beautiful passage, descriptive of decay and death, is extracted from that sublime production. BIOGRAPHY OF ARTIST: Samuel Prout (1783-1852) was a drawing master, topographical illustrator and watercolourist. He was born on 17th December in Norfolk, England and studied under the master of the Plymouth Grammar School, J. Bidlake. He was not always able to produce work to the high standards required by publishers such as John Britton. In 1796 Britton employed Prout to tour Cornwall in order to sketch views for his series of Beauties of England & Wales after having seen the sketches of Devonshire that Prout produced whilst touring with the historical painter, B. R. Haydon. These sketches of Cornwall were unsuccessful and it wasn't until 1802 that his work had improved to a satisfactory standard and he was re-employed by Britton. Prout's work was considered to be exceptional, he depicted Gothic architecture with great precision. He was also able to show the mood of the buildings contrasted with highlights of figures which, for a generation, was widely copied. This was mainly due to Ruskin's report on him in Modern Painters, which described Prout as a substantial and sunny colourist. Prout was ill continually, however, he finished work on Wiltshire, Essex and Cambridgeshire for John Britton. It wasn't until 1819, after he became a member of the Old Watecolour Society (OWS), that prout first travelled to the Continent visiting France. He then went on to travel widely in Europe visiting Bavaria, Italy, The Rhine and Belgium in 1824. His last tour was to Normandy in 1846 after which, he became extremely ill and was unable to work from that time until his death in February 1852. PRINT DATE: This engraving was printed in the 1840s; it is not a modern reproduction in any way. PRINT SIZE: Overall print size is 7 1/2 inches by 10 inches including white borders, actual scene is 4 inches by 6 inches. PRINT CONDITION: Condition is excellent. Bright and clean. Blank on reverse. Paper is quality woven rag stock. SHIPPING: Buyer to pay shipping, domestic orders receives priority mail, international orders receive regular mail unless otherwise asked for. We take a variety of payment options, more payment details will be in our email after auction close. We pack properly to protect your item! Please note: the terms used in our auctions for engraving, heliogravure, lithograph, print, plate, photogravure etc. are ALL prints on paper, NOT blocks of steel or wood. "ENGRAVINGS", the term commonly used for these paper prints, were the most common method in the 1700s and 1800s for illustrating old books, and these paper prints or "engravings" were inserted into the book with a tissue guard frontis, usually on much thicker quality rag stock paper, although many were also printed and issued as loose stand alone prints. So this auction is for an antique paper print(s), probably from an old book, of very high quality and usually on very thick rag stock paper. EXTREMELY RARE TO FIND IN THIS EXCELLENT CONDITION!
Price: 7.99 USD
Location: New Providence, New Jersey
End Time: 2024-04-25T19:56:04.000Z
Shipping Cost: 7.95 USD
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Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Type: Print
