View of St. James’s Palace

Edward Dayes (1763 - 1804)
John Neagle ( - 1822)

Engraving

Published 11 March 1799
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  • About the work

    The print was made for 'The History of London and its Environs', a book by the Rev. Henry Hunter (1741-1802), who was a Church of Scotland minister and translator. The work began to be published in parts from 1796, but Hunter died before it was completed. In 1811, the publisher and bookseller John Stockdale (c.1749-1814) issued the complete work, which had been finished by other less skilled writers.

  • About the artist
    Edward Dayes was born in London and apprenticed to mezzotinter and painter William Pether. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1786. During his early career he worked as a miniaturist, later concentrating on the topographical landscapes in watercolour for which he is best-known. Thomas Girtin was a pupil of Dayes’ until an argument between the two seems to have led to Girtin’s imprisonment. Although not a pupil, J. M. W. Turner also studied Dayes’s work and some watercolours by Turner from the 1790s are virtually indistinguishable from those of Dayes. Towards the end of his career, Dayes began working in oils with less success. He was known as a difficult character with a fiery temper and committed suicide in London in 1804.
    John Neagle was an engraver of portraits and sporting, biblical, genre and topographical subjects after contemporary artists and Old Masters. Born in London, he later emigrated to the U.S.A., where he died.
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  • Details
    Title
    View of St. James’s Palace
    Date
    Published 11 March 1799
    Medium
    Engraving
    Acquisition
    Presented by the Ministry of Defence, October 1964
    GAC number
    6692