North West View of the Castle of Durham, and Framwellgate Bridge

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Durham Castle is bathed in warm sunlight in this mid 19th-century lithographic view, which includes Prebends Bridge in the foreground. Pedestrians, a horse-drawn cart and a carriage pass over the bridge, while a small boat travels beneath it.

The castle was originally built in the 11th century, after being commissioned by William the Conqueror.

Prebends Bridge was designed by George Nicholson and built from 1772 to 1777. It is one of three stone arch bridges that cross the River Wear, in the centre of Durham.

The artist Edmund Hastings, who painted the watercolour on which this lithograph is based, is thought to have been resident in Durham from 1804 to his death, more than 50 years later. He painted numerous views in and around the city. In 1819, Hastings exhibited a ‘Study in Durham Park, the seat of – Trotter, Esq.’ at the Old Watercolour Society. ‘An extensive View of Durham City Viewed from Outlaying Fields’ (1844) and ‘The Interior of Durham Cathedral’ (1853) by Hastings were both sold through Anderson & Garland auctioneers of Newcastle in 2009. The Government Art Collection also includes a watercolour view of ‘Durham Cathedral’ by the artist.

Edmund (sometimes referred to as Edward) Hastings was born in Alnwick and educated at Bamburgh. He studied art under the patronage of Reynold Gideon Bouyer (1741-1826), Archdeacon of Northumberland. Hastings exhibited 22 works at the Old Watercolour Society (1816-20), 47 works at the Royal Academy (1804-27), 11 at the British Institution (1807-27) and nine at the Society of British Artists in Suffolk Street (1824-27). He also exhibited in Newcastle. Hastings was based in London and Durham, where he married in about 1805. Much of his works were made in the north-east. He died in South Bailey, Durham, at the age of 80.
W. L. Walton was a lithographer of landscapes, topographical views, military and transport subjects after works by contemporary artists. He worked for the firm of lithographic printers Day & Son in London.

Places

England, Durham, County Durham

Subjects

wagon, topography, townscape/cityscape, river, cliff, bridge (urban), house, castle, battlement/crenellation, turret, chimney, barge/canal boat

Materials & Techniques

lithograph, coloured lithograph

Artist

Edmund Hastings (1781 - 1861)
W L Walton

Title

North West View of the Castle of Durham, and Framwellgate Bridge

Date

Medium

Coloured lithograph

Dimensions

height: 46.00 cm, width: 34.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Parker Gallery, March 1974

GAC number

10979