Sundial, Queens College

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall

This print features the sundial in the Old Court at Queens’ College at the University of Cambridge. It is from a series of prints depicting aspects of the architecture and artefacts associated with the various colleges in Cambridge. Here, Hoyle focuses on the black and white patterned façade of the sundial, using the interplay between lines and numbers to make a strong graphic statement.

A constituent college of Cambridge University, Queens was first founded in 1448. The college sits astride the River Cam with its two halves joined across the river by the famous Mathematical Bridge. The first sundial at this location dates back to 1642, when entries in the college accounts show payments for stone, gilt, painting, and other source materials. It was originally painted onto flat blocks of stone set into the brick wall.

Born in Rushton, Lancashire, Walter Hoyle studied at Beckenham School of Art between 1940 and 1942 and at the Royal College of Art, London, from 1947 to 1948. On graduating he went to the Byzantine Institute in Istanbul, an experience which he said was an important influence in his work. Hoyle taught at St Martin's School of Art, London, from 1951 until 1960 and Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, from 1960 to 1964. In 1964, he moved to Cambridge and taught at the Cambridge School of Art, placing an emphasis on printmaking. He remained at Cambridge School of Art until his retirement in 1985. During the latter period of his career he launched Cambridge Print Editions. Work was also commissioned from Hoyle by Editions Alecto, Christie’s Contemporary Art and the Folio Society. Examples of his work are held in the Tate Collection, the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Places

England, Cambridgeshire

Subjects

topography, astrology, sundial, college, university

Materials & Techniques

block print

Artist

Walter Hoyle (1922 - 2000)

Title

Sundial, Queens College

Portfolio Title

Cambridge Series

Edition

53/75, A/P

Date

1966

Medium

Block print

Acquisition

Purchased from Editions Alecto, February 1972

Inscription

below image: [left] 53/75 [centre left] Sundial, Queen's College [centre right] Artists proof [right] Walter Hoyle

Provenance

Purchased from Editions Alecto, London

GAC number

L726