View of Windsor from the Upper End of the Long Walk

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

John ‘Warwick’ Smith was born in Cumberland, the son of a gardener to the sister of Captain John Bernard Gilpin. Gilpin gave him lessons and took him on sketching trips. In about 1775, he met the Earl of Warwick, who funded his stay in Italy (1776-81). He continued producing Italian pictures after his return. He later travelled on UK sketching tours and received commissions for series of watercolours, including 56 of Perthshire and 26 of the Isle of Man for the Duke of Atholl. He made several trips to Wales between 1784 and 1806, resulting in 15 plates for ‘A Tour to Hafod in Cardiganshire’ (1810). In 1805, he became a member of the Society of Painters in Watercolour and was later its President. He died at the age of 81 in London.
William Byrne made etchings and engravings of landscapes after contemporary artists. At 22 he won a premium of 25 guineas from the Society of Arts. From 1769 to 1772 he worked for Johann Georg Wille in Paris. After returning to the UK he became a prosperous engraver and publisher. He exhibited from 1766 to 1780 and was elected a fellow of the Incorporated Society of Artists. With watercolourist Thomas Hearne he produced the series of engravings for ‘The Antiquities of Great Britain’ (1778-06). Among his pupils were Samuel Middiman and Johann Gottlieb Schumann. Byrne married twice and had five children, all of whom became painters and / or engravers. Byrne died suddenly at his home in Titchfield Street, Westminster, at about the age of 62.

Places

England, Berkshire

Subjects

topography, landscape C19th, tree, castle

Materials & Techniques

engraving, coloured engraving

Artist

John "Warwick" Smith (1749 - 1831)
William Byrne (1743 - 1805)

Title

View of Windsor from the Upper End of the Long Walk

Date

1 January 1803

Medium

Coloured engraving

Acquisition

Purchased from Sotheby's, 22 February 1977

GAC number

13104