Lyme Regis

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Home Office, 2 Marsham Street

This image was reproduced on a small scale and in an oblong format within ‘The Beauties of Lyme Regis, Charmouth, the Land-Slip and their vicinities; topographically and historically considered’ written by H. Rowland Brown and published by Daniel Dunster in 1857. (Dunster also published and sold this larger lithographic print.) The book included a description of the view:

‘Gradually the landscape is opening before us, and standing at length on the brow of the hill, we obtain a first glimpse of the town of Lyme Regis, sunning itself in a deep hollow of a delightful point of the great West Bay… in close proximity to the clustering houses of the town, we notice several beautiful green slopes and verdant pastures, dotted by the white walls and gaily painted verhandahs [sic] of many a charming marine villa. There is too, the old square tower of its parish church, dedicated to Saint Michael… We then turn towards the town, observing that curious specimen of the ingenuity of man, its artifical [sic] Harbour, called Cobb.’

Little is known of the artist of this work. In 1842 the ‘Sherborne Mercury’ recorded the death, in Lyme Regis on 22 May, of a John Drayton junior of the firm of solicitors Hillman and Drayton, the son of merchant John Drayton. The paper reported: ‘This amiable and talented young man, was proficient in the Fine Arts, and was universally respected and beloved.’
As yet, no information has been found on the lithographer J. Hawkins. However, he may be the same J. Hawkins, who made lithographs after drawings of zoological specimens for a ‘Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of HMS Challenger during the Year 1873-76’ (published 1888).

Places

England, Lyme Regis, Dorset, English Channel

Subjects

topography, landscape C19th, seascape/coastal scene, townscape/cityscape, cow, hill, man, woman, field, hedgerow, path, gate, harbour, house

Materials & Techniques

lithograph, colour lithograph

Artist

John (Jnr) Drayton
J Hawkins
Day and Haghe

Title

Lyme Regis

Date

Medium

Colour lithograph

Dimensions

height: 34.50 cm, width: 53.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Parker Gallery, April 1960

GAC number

5089