The Royall Palace of Hampton Court

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

This engraved bird’s-eye view shows Hampton Court Palace in the setting of its gardens. It is part of a series of 80 topographical views, made by Leonard Knyff and engraved by Johannes Kip. They were reproduced in Britannia Illustrata, one of the most important topographical publications of the eighteenth century, first published in 1707 with the additional title Views of Several of the Queen’s Palaces also of the Principal Seats of the Nobility and Gentry of Great Britain.

Leendert Knijff, better known as Leonard Knyff, was born in Haarlem in 1650 and followed his brother Jacob (also an artist) to London at some point after 1676. In 1694, Knyff was made a British citizen. He began his career painting still lifes but became better-known in Britain for his views of gardens and country houses. The birds-eye view format, which was popularised in the UK by Knyff, is thought to have first been introduced to the British landscape tradition by his brother, Jacob.

Places

England, Middlesex, River Thames, Hampton Court Palace

Subjects

topography, tree, deer, river, hill, coat of arms, towpath, path, formal garden, palace, fountain, barge/canal boat, sailboat

Materials & Techniques

engraving, coloured engraving

Artist

Leonard Knyff (1650 - 1722)

Title

The Royall Palace of Hampton Court

Date

Medium

Coloured engraving

Acquisition

Purchased 1947-1948

Inscription

in ink below image: [right] 11 & 12

GAC number

502