A True and Exact Prospect of the Famous Citty of London from S. Marie Overs Steeple in Southwarke in its flourishing condition before the fire / Another prospect of the sayd citty taken from the same place as it appeareth now after the sad calamitie and destruction by fire in the year M.DC.LXVI

Maker:

Hollar, Wenceslaus

ID:

A24656

Production date:

1675

Location:

In Store

This etching is taken from an original print by Wenceslaus Hollar in 1666. It shows two views of the City of London across the River Thames, taken from the steeple of Southwark Cathedral, printed parallel, one on top of the other. The upper view is of the City before the Great Fire of London in 1666. The lower image is of London in ruins after the fire.  < ...Read more

This etching is taken from an original print by Wenceslaus Hollar in 1666. It shows two views of the City of London across the River Thames, taken from the steeple of Southwark Cathedral, printed parallel, one on top of the other. The upper view is of the City before the Great Fire of London in 1666. The lower image is of London in ruins after the fire.

This view matches the written accounts of London at the time, which describe the spires of churches and the brick chimney stacks of houses as the only structures still standing. John Evelyn walked through the ruins on Friday 7 September, his 'hair almost being singed' and wrote 'nor could one have possibly known where he was, but by the ruins of some church or hall, that had some remarkable tower or pinnacle remaining.' < Hide

Measurements

H 282 mm; W 757 mm (paper)

Materials

paper; board; ink

Last Updated

2024-03-26