A View from Richmond Hill

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Thomas Christopher Hofland, landscape painter, was born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. He was a pupil of landscape painter John Rathbone and later taught painting in Kew. In 1805 he moved to Derby and continued his teaching career, relocating again to Leeds in 1808. In 1810 he married Barbara Hoole, a writer of text books and children’s fiction. Hofland was never elected a Royal Academician and in reaction took a leading role in creating the Society of British Artists in 1823, where he showed at least 119 works. Hofland’s subjects are almost exclusively British and include views of the Lake District and country houses. In 1840 he travelled to Italy, staying near Rome and Naples. He died of stomach cancer at Leamington Spa.
Line engraver Charles Theodosius Heath was the illegitimate son and pupil of printmaker James Heath. He initially produced topographical prints and plates for an edition of the Bible and for popular classics. In the 1820 he began to engrave banknotes through the firm Perkins, Fairman and Heath. In 1840, with his son Frederick, he engraved a portrait of Queen Victoria on a master die for the first postage stamps. He was also one of the first to use lithography. He recovered from financial difficulties of 1821 and 1826 by focusing on fashion plates. He produced few prints after 1828 but employed engravers, including sons Frederick and Alfred. Trustees were appointed to manage his finances in 1848. He continued to work until his death at 63.

Places

England, Richmond (Surrey), Surrey, River Thames, London

Subjects

topography, landscape C18th, tree, cow, sheep, river, hill, man, woman, sailboat

Materials & Techniques

engraving, coloured engraving

Artist

Thomas Christopher Hofland (1777 - 1843)
Charles Theodosius Heath (1785 - 1848)

Title

A View from Richmond Hill

Date

1823

Medium

Coloured engraving

Acquisition

Purchased from Frank T Sabin, November 1962

GAC number

5960