The South Prospect of the Cathedral of St. Paul’s London

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Hospitality, Lancaster House

This detailed elevation of St Paul's Cathedral from the south side was drawn by an architectural draughtsman. To the lower right of the image the scale is indicated. At the top left two cherubs sounding trumpets hold up a descriptive banner. William Emmett also produced an elevation of the eastern facade of St. Paul’s, a north to south section through the transept and, in 1703, a similar view to this, also viewed from the south side but showing an east to west section through the Cathedral. Both this print and the 1703 depiction were made while the cathedral was still under construction.

William Emmett, architect and draughtsman, was the eldest son of Maurice Emmett (c.1646-1684). He was baptised at St. Margret's Church, Westminster. In 1702 Emmett produced a series of engravings of St. Paul's Cathedral, which were published from a house in New Street, London, owned by Emmett’s younger brother (also named Maurice). Emmett and his wife were painted by the Flemish painter, resident in London, Balthasar van Lemens (1637-1704). Lemens was also commissioned to produce religious paintings and a ceiling painting, depicting the nine muses, for Emmett’s house in Bromley.

Places

England, London, St. Paul's Cathedral, City of London

Subjects

trumpet, topography, weathervane, putto, church, cathedral, church windows, dome

Materials & Techniques

engraving, coloured engraving

Artist

William Emmett

Title

The South Prospect of the Cathedral of St. Paul’s London

Date

1702

Medium

Coloured engraving

Acquisition

Purchased 1947-1948

Inscription

[bottom right, in ink] IV

GAC number

513