[Charlton House] The Seat of Sr. Thomas Wilson Bart. at Charlton in Kent

Copper engraving by W. Watts after a painting by Paul Sandby. Published by C. Kearsly at No. 46 in Fleet Street, November 1st 1776.

Image size:  4 3/4”x 7 1/2”, plus title and margins

Excellent condition throughout, a crisp impression of a scarce engraving

A charming eighteenth century view of Charlton House. The architecture is precisely delineated, beautifully set against the movement of the clouds, with the shadows on the lawn being espcially well observed. The scene is enlived by the arrival of the coach-and-four and the children playing in the foreground, with a frisky dog eyeing up the peacock.

Paul Sandby R. A. (1731-1809) exhibited and published widely during his lifetime, and is best known for his landscape sketches in watercolour and pen and ink.

Charlton House, attributed to the architect John Thorpe, was built between 1607-12, for Sir Adam Newton, Dean of Durham. By the time this engraving was published, it was the residence of Sir Thomas Wilson (1727-1799), MP for Sussex between 1774-1780. His daughter married Spencer Perceval, the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated. Wilson's descendents, the Maryon Wilson family, occupied the house until the early twentieth century.

Charlton House is the finest and best-preserved Jacobean mansion in London.

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