Normandy, ROUEN CATHEDRAL CHURCH GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE ~ 1865 Art Print Engraving

Description: ROUEN CATHEDRALArtist: J. M.W. Turner ____________ Engraver: Thomas Higham Note: the title in the table above is printed below the engraving AN ANTIQUE STEEL ENGRAVING MADE IN THE 1860s !! ITEM IS OVER 130 YEARS OLD! VERY OLD WORLD! INCREDIBLE DETAIL! FROM THE ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: Rouen is the ancient capital of Normandy, beautifully situated, on the Seine, and, with its suburbs, containing a population estimated at over 150,000. It is the Manchester of France in regard to the cotton manufacturer and, on account of the crowds of busy merchants and manufacturers who throng its streets, and the modern improvements which an increasing commerce has compelled its inhabitants to make, it has lost much of the picturesque and venerable appearance which it once possessed. The cathedral of Notre Dame is one of the principal objects which invite the attention of the stranger. This structure, however, has been severely criticised as "viciously florid," and looking "like a piece of rock-work, rough, and encrusted with images and tabernacles, and ornamented from top to bottom." It is seen from several points on approaching the city. In coming from Dieppe, the traveller obtains a very fine view of the situation of Rouen, when, after making a long ascent, he reaches the edge of an amphitheatre of hills, and surveys it from a summit almost in a state of repose in the valley. The most celebrated prospect, however, is that obtained from a part of the rising grounds called Mount of St. Gatharine. At a single glance the whole of the city bursts upon the view; and, in the midst of the general mass of dark-grey stone rising considerably above it, the eye is filled with the double towers of the old Gothic cathedral, as well as the tapering spires of other churches, overlooking the rich sunny valleys which stretch away in the distance. The remote hills, the river, the islands, the bridges, and the woods greatly add to the charm of the view, as the reader will readily conceive. In the interior of the cathedral there are several objects especially interesting to the historical student and. antiquary. The chief of these are several small lozenge-shaped tablets of marble, sunk into the pavement of the choir, marking the spots where the heart of Richard Coeur de Lion, and the bodies of his brother Henry, of William, son of Geoffrey Plantagenet, their uncle, and of John, Duke of Bedford (regent under Henry VI. of England), were interred. Their monuments, much injured by the outrages of the Huguenots in 1563, when all parts of the church suffered more or less, were removed and lost sight of till 1838 and 1867. The effigy of Richard 1., a rude statue six and a-half feet long, in limestone, much mutilated, represents him crowned, and in the royal robes. His " lion heart" was also found still perfect, but shrunk in size, and enclosed in a case of lead. It is now deposited in the museum of the city. His body was interred at Fontevrault. At the end of the chapel, in the south aisle, is the tomb and effigy of Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy, whilst, in other parts of the building, various tombs of historical interest appear. The church of St. Maclou, with its fountain, is one of the most striking edifices in Rouen. It ranks third among the churches for beauty. Its great feature, however, is the triple porch by which it is entered, and which is a striking work of architectural beauty. The style is the florid of the 15th century, and the elaborate care with which its sculptured ornamentation is executed will command attention. The carving of the wooden doors is said to have been the work of Jean Goujon, who produced many similar works which are still admired as the productions of an original and pains-taking artist. The winding staircase of this church, leading to the organ-loft, is pointed to as worthy of attention. The Palace of Justice is another most interesting building, which, as a specimen of civic Gothic architecture, may fairly compete with some of the finest town-halls of the Low Countries. It was erected in the time of Louis XII., when the style had become fantastic and redundant in ornamentation. Still, it displays so much originality and magnificence, that it is almost painful to condemn it on account of its deficiencies in purity and taste. It occupies three sides of a square, and is a sort of Westminster Hall in miniature, and serving similar purposes. We are informed that the body of the building, in the centre, was raised by Louis XII. for the Courd'Echiquier of Normandy, the ancient supreme tribunal of the duchy, at least as old as the time of William the Conqueror, for which the name of Parliament was substituted by Francis 1. in 1515. Behind the palace is a large building, used for the sittings of what, in the late emperor's reign, was called the Cour Imperiale. SIZE: Image size is 5 inches by 7 inches. Print size is 9 1/2 inches by 12 1/2 inches including white borders. CONDITION: Condition is excellent. Bright and clean. Blank on reverse. SHIPPING: Buyers to pay shipping/handling, domestic orders receives priority mail, international orders receive regular mail. Please note: the terms used in our auctions for engraving, heliogravure, lithograph, print, plate, photogravure etc. are ALL prints on paper, NOT blocks of steel or wood. "ENGRAVINGS", the term commonly used for these paper prints, were the most common method in the 1700s and 1800s for illustrating old books, and these paper prints or "engravings" were inserted into the book with a tissue guard frontis, usually on much thicker quality rag stock paper, although many were also printed and issued as loose stand alone prints. So this auction is for an antique paper print(s), probably from an old book, of very high quality and usually on very thick rag stock paper. EXTREMELY RARE IN THIS EXCELLENT CONDITION!

Price: 29.99 USD

Location: New Providence, New Jersey

End Time: 2024-11-18T16:45:28.000Z

Shipping Cost: 7.95 USD