A View in Newstead Park, belonging to the Rt. Hon. the Lord Byron

Location

Country: Switzerland
City: Geneva
Place: UK Mission to the United Nations

Surprisingly large ships sail on the lake in Newstead Park, Nottinghamshire, and a mock castle is seen on the shore to the lower left of the composition. In the background, just right of centre, is Newstead Abbey and to the right of the abbey, the old priory. This former Augustinian priory was founded by Henry II in c.1170. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, the monks were expelled and the property presented to Sir John Byron for his services to the King. Sir John converted the old priory into a residence for his family.

The property passed down the family line and was inherited by 16-year-old William Byron, 5th Baron Byron in 1736. It was in William’s possession when this print was published. The Baron lived a reckless lifestyle, ran up numerous debts, and was known for his fiery temper, killing his cousin and later his coachman. William used the lake at Newstead as a setting to act out naval battles.

After the 5th Baron died in 1798, the family title and estate at Newstead (seen in this engraving) passed to future poet George Gordon Byron, who was just 10 years old, changing the course of his life. Byron used Newstead Abbey only sporadically and in 1818 he sold the estate to Major Thomas Wildman.

Thomas Smith of Derby was a topographical and picturesque landscape painter who lived in Bridgegate, Derby. He exhibited at the Society of Artists and the Free Society of Artists from 1760 to 1767. Several examples of his work include groups of elegant tourists admiring views of country estates. He took his art sufficiently seriously to name both his sons after great painters, calling them Thomas Correggio Smith and John Raphael Smith (who continued the tradition by naming his son John Rubens Smith). Both of his sons naturally became artists, as did his daughter, Emma. Smith died on 5 September 1767 in Hotwells, a district of Bristol.
Nothing is known about the early life of the landscape engraver James Mason. He is first mentioned by engraver and antiquary George Vertue, working for the publisher Arthur Pond in 1744, when he was probably in his early twenties. Mason later established himself as a popular engraver, co-publishing some of his own works. He produced several engravings after paintings by landscape and scene painter George Lambert, the majority of which are dated between 1745 and 1761. Mason engraved considerably less after 1780. He died in 1805 at his home in Winchester Row, Paddington, and was buried nearby at St Mary’s Church. He referred to himself as engraver and shopkeeper in his will, which suggests that he also ran a print shop.

Places

England, Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire

Subjects

topography, genre, tree, deer, river, man, flag, garden, park, country house/mansion, sailboat

Materials & Techniques

engraving

Artist

Thomas, (of Derby) Smith (c.1720 - 24-1767)
James Mason (1710 - c.1780)

Title

A View in Newstead Park, belonging to the Rt. Hon. the Lord Byron

Date

published October 1749

Medium

Engraving

Acquisition

Purchased from Colnaghi, October 1953

GAC number

2322