The South-West Prospect of the City of Canterbury

Location

Country: New Zealand
City: Wellington
Place: British High Commission

This distant view or ‘prospect’ of Canterbury in Kent was drawn and published in the early 18th century by brothers Samuel and Nathaniel Buck. In the foreground two well-dressed men and a lady admire the view of the city, seen beyond lush green fields, with us.

In 1720 the Buck brothers published proposals for engraved views or ‘prospects’ of two panoramic drawings of English towns: Leeds and Wakefield. The success of the prints led to a further eight town prospects. In 1728 they extended the project to record ‘prospects’ of every remaining principal town of England and Wales. Each was drawn at a rural spot some distance from the town itself and, when possible, from a height. The prospects were published with a numbered key and descriptive text below the image. The text for ‘The South-West Prospect of the City of Canterbury’ includes the following:

‘Antiquities are found here; as Arches in ye City Walls, now stopped up, but once Gates answering to Watling Street & Stone Street. And in digging in and about ye City Pavements, Foundations, Urns & other remains of that People are frequently discover’d, with abundance of their Coins.'

Brothers Samuel and Nathaniel Buck made their names as leading British topographical draughtsmen of the 18th century. Over a period of 34 years, the Bucks produced several hundred drawings and engravings, including 87 engraved prospects of England and Wales. These are now important visual records of the appearance of British urban landscapes prior to the changes that occurred during the Industrial Revolution. In some cases, the places depicted have since disappeared or changed beyond recognition.

Places

England, Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, Kent, River Stour, Kent

Subjects

topography, townscape/cityscape, cow, river, hill, man, woman, coat of arms, field, house, church, cathedral

Materials & Techniques

engraving, coloured engraving

Artist

Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (1696 - 1779)

Title

The South-West Prospect of the City of Canterbury

Date

published 25 March 1738

Medium

Coloured engraving

Acquisition

Purchased from the Parker Gallery, March 1968

GAC number

8020