Astronomical Observatory

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Frederick Mackenzie trained as a pupil of architect John Adey Repton. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy at 16 and soon afterwards began working for antiquary and topographer John Britton, illustrating Britton’s publications. From 1813, he exhibited his work at the Society of Painters in Watercolours, showing 97 paintings there in total. His early exhibits were almost exclusively views of Oxford and Cambridge Colleges, while later exhibits were mainly English churches and cathedrals. He was elected a member of the Society in 1823 and served as its Treasurer from 1831. He also continued to illustrate books, three of which he published. In his 50s he married Mary Hine, a widow. He died at their home, near Regent’s Park, aged about 65.
John Bluck was an aquatint engraver, mainly of topographical views, but also of marine and sporting subjects after his contemporaries. He produced plates for numerous publications.

Places

England, Oxford: Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford, Oxfordshire

Subjects

topography, astronomy, telescope, university, window, balcony, staircase, scientific interior

Materials & Techniques

aquatint, colour aquatint

Artist

Frederick Mackenzie (1787 - 1854)
John Bluck

Title

Astronomical Observatory

Date

published 1 February 1814

Medium

Coloured aquatint

Acquisition

Purchased from Geoffrey Glynn, June 1960

GAC number

5138