Drawing Room Frewin Hall, Oxford. The Residence of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales 1860-1

Method Lithograph with tint stone
Artist after Joseph Nash
Published Oxford. Published by W. Thompson, 1862. Day & Son, Lithrs to the Queen
Dimensions Image 310 x 430 mm, Sheet 465 x 632 mm
Notes An uncommon large and separately published lithograph of the drawing room of Frewin Hall, one of the properties owned by Brasenose College Oxford, as it was at the time of the Prince of Wales' residency from 1860-1861. The view, based on an original painting by Nash in the Royal Collection, shows the Prince's drawing room while a student in Oxford. The view was one of a pair, with the other, also after an original painting by Nash in the Royal Collection, depicting the Prince's study.

The Prince, the future Edward VII, was set up in the rooms as his father, Prince Albert, believed it was important that the Prince be accessible to the whole of the University, rather than just Christ Church, the college to which he was attached. Frewin Hall was originally the site of an Augustinian College, which, following the dissolution of Osney Abbey, passed to the Crown, and thence to the Earls of Huntingdon. In the sixteenth century, the site, between New Inn Hall and Cornmarket, was gifted to Brasenose College.

Joseph Nash (1809-1878) was a British artist, specialising in architectural watercolours and lithographs. Nash produced a huge number of prints for numerous publications, such as the four volume series 'Mansions of England in the Olden Time' 1839 -1849, a set of views of Windsor Castle from his own drawings in 1848 , and 'Comprehensive Pictures of the Great Exhibition of 1851'. Nash appears to have been a regular visitor to Oxford creating watercolours and drawings of numerous colleges and University buildings from the 1830's - 1860's.

The firm of Day & Haghe was one of the most prominent lithographic companies of the nineteenth-century. They were also amongst the foremost pioneers in the evolution of chromolithography. The firm was established in 1823 by William Day, but did not trade under the moniker of Day & Haghe until the arrival of Louis Haghe in 1831. In 1838, Day & Haghe were appointed as Lithographers to the Queen. However, and perhaps owing to the fact that there was never a formal partnership between the two, Haghe left the firm in the 1850's to devote himself to watercolour painting. The firm continued as Day & Son under the guidance of William Day the younger (1823 - 1906) but, as a result of a scandal involving Lajos Kossuth, was forced into liquidation in 1867. Vincent Brookes bought the company in the same year, and would produce the caricatures for Gibson Bowles' Vanity Fair magazine, as well as the illustrations for Cassells's Poultry Book, amongst other commissions.

William Thompson (1811–1871) was a print seller, and Mayor of Oxford (1862/63). William joined his father's "Printsellers, Gilders, Picture Frame Makers & House Painters" business situated at 39 High Street, on the corner of Queen's Lane in 1839. He went on to open his own shop in 1846, operating from 59 High Street, publishing and selling prints. Thompson was elected a member of Oxford Town Council in 1847, and represented the East Ward for many years. He went on to be appointed Sheriff of Oxford in 1860, and later an Alderman and Mayor of Oxford in 1862. Thompson retired as an Alderman in 1868, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1870.

Condition: Time toning to margins and inscription space, not affecting image. Damp stain to bottom right corner of sheet, not affecting image. Light foxing to margins not affecting the image. Minor marginal tears and creases to edges of sheet. Two old card tabs to left and right of top of image from original mount board, not affecting image.
Framing unmounted
Price £150.00
Stock ID 44764

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