Angles of Art

signed by the artist

Framed in walnut matt veneer frame with double conservation mount and UV glass. Image size 210x275mm - Mounted Size 325x415mm - Overall size with frame: 381 x 457mm. Signed by the artist.

Biography

An eminent nineteenth century architect, Sir Ernest George was also highly respected for his original etchings and watercolours. He studied art and architecture at the Royal Academy Schools, London, and created his first set of etchings in 1873 ('Etchings on the Moselle'). During the following years Ernest George etched and painted many fine architectural views in UK, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Italy.

Ernest George was a full member of the Royal Society of Etchers and Engravers (1881), the Royal British Artists (1889) and the prestigious Royal Academy (1917). He was also knighted for his contributions to art and architecture in 1912. Both the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, own collections of Sir Ernest George's etchings.

DRURY LANE

Sir William Drury who fought in the Irish wars of Elizabeth, and who fell in a duel, had here his house, the grounds being St Giles's Fields. His name remains with this Lane, though Lord Craven became possessed of the house, which he pulled down and rebuilt as Craven House. The Earl married the Queen of Bohemia, daughter of James I., who lived in this mansion, which was only taken down in 1809. The house in the etching, roofed with a gable and a half, which is now used by a dealer in old furniture, was previously the " Cock and Pie " Tavern. Larwood says of it: "Hither the youths and maidens of the Metropolis, who on May-Day danced around the May-pole in the Strand, were accustomed to resort for cakes and ale." St. Mary-le-Strand, seen in the etching, has taken the place of this famous Pole -130 feet high in the middle of it was a balcony or crow's nest, and above the kings arms with a gilded crown and vane at the top. Pepys enters in his diary, 1st May 1667: " To Westminster; in the way meeting many milkmaids with their garlands upon their pails, dancing, with a fiddler before them, and saw pretty Nelly (Nell Gwynne) standing at her lodgings' door in Drury Lane in her smock sleeves and bodice, looking upon one; she seemed a mighty pretty creature."

"Amid that area wide they took their stand,

Where the tall May-pole once overlooked the Strand;

But now (so Anne and Piety ordain),

A church collects the saints of Drury Lane."