The Duke of Wellington
Hyde Park Portrait, 1845

This item is sold.  It has been placed here in our online archives as a service for researchers and collectors.

A View in Hyde Park (The Duke of Wellington)
Detail of the Duke of Wellington in Hyde Park
Henry de Daubrawa (act. 1840-1861) (after)
J. Harris (engraver)
A View in Hyde Park
R. Ackermann's Eclipse Sporting Gallery, London: March 26, 1845
Hand-colored aquatint, heightened with gum arabic
19 x 23.75 inches, sheet
18 x 20.75 inches, image
26 x 29 inches, matted
Sold, please inquire as to the availability of similar items.

An equestrian portrait depicting the elderly Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) riding past the Wellington Monument in Hyde Park Corner, a statue of Achilles cast from cannons captured at the battles of Salamanca, Vittoria, Toulouse and Waterloo.

Henry de Daubrawa was a British artist who illustrated equestrian and military subjects. Another copy of this print is in the collection of the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery, London. (See References below.)

J. Harris was an engraver, producing sporting and maritime prints after the works of various artists. The publisher, Rudolph Ackermann (1764-1834) pioneered lithography in Britain published many fine illustrated volumes, magazines and music. He also took out patents relating to waterproofing and axles. The business continued as Arthur Ackermann and Son until the 1990s.

Ackermann & Co. was a prominent British publisher and printseller.   The firm was founded by Rudolph Ackermann (1764-1834), publishing as R. Ackermann from 1795 to 1829.  Ackermann was born in Germany and came to England in the 1780s.  He pioneered lithography in Britain (though frequently working with color-printed etchings and aquatints), and became a leading publisher of fine colorplate books, decorative prints and magazines, as well as sheet music of the Regency period.  In 1797, Ackermann relocated the business premises to 101 Strand, which were known by 1798 as “The Repository of Arts,” also the title of a periodical with a large number of prints that he published from 1809 to 1828.  As suggested by the full title of the publication, Ackermann's Repository of the Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics, the subject matter of the Repository was wide ranging.  Among the most influential and popular images in the series were studies of Regency decorative arts, interior design and fashion, as well as various city and country views.  Ackermann was a major patron of British artists and designers, notably the famous caricaturist Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827), whose works were featured in the famous set of London interiors and exteriors entitled Microcosm of London (R. Ackermann, London, 1808-10).  Ackermann also manufactured and sold art supplies. In 1829, Rudolph transferred the business to three of his sons, who traded as Ackermann & Co. from 1829 to 1859.  The business continued until the end of the 20th Century, last operating as Arthur Ackermann and Son (with offices in the 20th Century in London, Paris, Chicago and New York).

Full publication information: R. Ackermann's Eclipse Sporting Gallery, 191 Regent Street, London.

References:

Edwards, Martin. "Achilles-Wellington Monument." Roll of Honour. http://www.roll-of-honour.com/London/Achilles.html (28 June 2007).

"Equestrian portrait of the Duke of Wellington passing the Achilles statue in Hyde Park." Collage, City of London. http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/Item&sp=Zdaubrawa&sp=20583&sp=X (28 June 2007).

Maxted, Ian. "The London book trades 1775-1800: a preliminary checklist of members." Exeter Working Papers in British Book Trade History.  U.K.: Devon Library and Information Services. 24 January 2005.  http://www.devon.gov.uk/etched?_IXP_=1&_IXR=111144 (4 May 2007).

"Rudolph Ackermann."  National Portrait Gallery.  May 2007.  http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp06540 (4 May 2007).