1825 Lancaster England, French Vue d’optique after JMW Turner, large folio, topography

Vue de Lancastre Prise de l'Aqueduc de Bridge

Printed in plate below image, lower left: A Paris chez BASSET, Rue St. Jacques No. 64. Undated but ca 1825.

Original hand coloured engraving.

Dimensions:

34,5x 52 cm.

Extremely rare engraving after the painting by JMW Turner housed in the Lady Lever Gallery, Liverpool.

The view of is of Lancaster, taken from the bridge that carries the Lancaster Canal over the river Lune. Like many plates by Turner, it makes a series of artful contrasts, between the modern canal bridge and the old buildings of the town, between rest and work, and between agriculture and modern industry. The aqueduct opened in the year of Turner’s visit to the town. In this composition the town is visible in panorama above the parapet of the aqueduct.

Vue d'optique (French), vue perspective or perspective view refers to a genre of etching popular during the second half of the 18th century and into the 19th. Vues d'optique were specifically developed to provide the illusion of depth when viewed through a zograscope, also known as an "optical diagonal machine" or viewers with similar functions.