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View, England, London, Vue d’optique, Royal Exchange, R.H. Laurie, Antique Print

$450

Interior of the Royal Exchange, London
R.H. (Richard Holmes) Laurie, London: July 12, 1822
Numbered upper right: “8*”
Hand-colored copperplate engraving
10 x 16.5 inches, image
11 x 17 inches, platemark
13.5 x 19.5 inches, overall
$450

View of the interior courtyard of the second Royal Exchange in London. Groups of men in top hats and long coats — and a few women and children — stand conversing in the center. This view was published in 1822, the year after the new tower in the center had been erected. The first Royal Exchange was built by Sir Thomas Gresham in the 16th century as a space where merchants and tradespeople could meet in an open courtyard and conduct business. The original building burned down in the 17th century and a new exchange was built. It is this second building that is shown here. In 1838, this building was destroyed by fire, and the third Royal Exchange was eventually built according to a different plan at a different site.

Product Description Continues Below

Description

This view is in the general format and size of a vue d’optique — a perspective view produced as a hand-colored print generally intended to be viewed through a convex lens. Vues d’optique often were rendered in high-key color and dramatic linear perspective which enhanced the illusion of three-dimensionality when viewed through the lens, making it seem like the viewer was really there. Thus, they served as a form of visual entertainment. The viewing devices were known variously as zograscopes, optiques, optical machines and peepshows. According to the Getty Research Institute, street performers would set up viewing boxes with a series of prints giving a pictorial tour of famous landmarks, dramatic events and foreign lands. Vues d’optique were also purchased by Grand Tour travelers as souvenirs to be viewed at home as a parlor activity. To cater to this broad audience, the prints often had titles and descriptions in two or more languages. Because the images are reversed in viewing devices, the main titles on some vues d’optique are backwards. Vues d’optique were also hung on walls as decoration.

Robert Laurie (1755-1836) and James Whittle (1757-1818) were London map, chart and printsellers active from 1794 to 1812 trading variously as Laurie and Whittle or Whittle and Laurie. Laurie began his career as an accomplished mezzotint engraver and exhibited at the Society of Artists from 1770 to 1776. With Whittle, he took over the large map and print business of Robert Sayer. Laurie & Whittle published many atlases and maps and products used for jigsaw puzzles. Robert’s son, Richard Holmes Laurie, succeeded him upon his retirement in 1812, and after Whittle’s death in 1818 carried on the business alone until at least 1840. The firm still exists as Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson Ltd., which has long specialized in marine charts.

Full title and publication information: “Re-Published July 12th 1822, by R.H. Laurie, No. 53, Fleet Street, London.”

Condition: Generally very good with the usual overall light toning, wear, soiling.

References:

“Emperor’s Palace in Beijing.” Devices of Wonder. J. Paul Getty Trust. 2001. http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/devices/html/homepage.html (30 September 2002).

Maxted, Ian. “The London book trades 1775-1800: a preliminary checklist of members.” Exeter Working Papers in British Book Trade History. 2001. http://bookhistory.blogspot.com/2007/01/london-1775-1800-l.html and http://bookhistory.blogspot.com/2007/01/london-1775-1800-w-z.html (20 May 2009).

Thornbury, Walter. “The Royal Exchange.” Old and New London: Volume 1. 1878. pp. 494-513. Online at Britsh History Online. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45060 (3 June 2009).

Additional information

Century

19th Century