Art

A handsome view of the interior and exterior of St. Thomas Chapel on the old London Bridge. At centre of the engraving is a view of 'London bridge as it was first built in 1209'. The lower third of the plate contains a history of the bridge set in an emblematic architectural frame. In the days before photography, engravings, such as this magnificent example, were how visual historical records were kept. George Vertue, was employed by the Society of Antiquaries for this task, and made many engravings from paintings, plans and maps. The Society of Antiquaries in London still possesses the original plates, but early prints such as this present example drawn from these plates are not often found. Copper engraving. Uncoloured. Size: 49 x 54 cm. (19½ x 21½ inches).