Aula B. Mariae Magdalenae [Magdalen Hall]

Method Copper engraving
Artist William Williams
Published [Oxford, c. 1732-1733]
Dimensions Image 372 x 425, Plate 378 x 434, Sheet 495 x 687 mm
Notes A view of the exterior of Magdalen Hall, above a plan of the building. Magdalen Hall was positioned next door to Magdalen College, on the site of what is now St. Swithun's Quad. In the early 1820s Magdalen Hall moved to a location opposite the Bodliean Libraray on Catte Street and in 1874 it was refounded as Hertford College. Key in a scroll to the right, elaborate compass scale to left. Description of the college founder to lower margin. From William Williams' 'Oxonia Depicta sive Collegiorum et Aularum in Inclyta Academia Oxoniensi Ichnographica & Scenographica Delineatio LXV Tabulis Aeneis expressa A Guilielmo Williams Cui accedit Uniuscujusque Collegij Aulaeque Notitia'.

William Williams (fl. 1732-4), often using the Latinate version of his name 'Guilielmus Williams', was an architectural draughtsman, and this is reflected in the formality of many of the engravings in his 'Oxonia Depicta'. The contents of the work are similar to those in Loggan's 'Oxonia Illustrata' published over 50 years earlier, commencing with a double-prospect of the city of Oxford each containing a numbered key, and a plan of the city after Agas' plan of 1588. There is a double prospect of the interior of the Bodleian Library after Loggan and a number of architectural plans of the colleges. More importantly the work includes 10 fine large engravings of the colleges of Magdalen, Corpus, Wadham, St. Johns, Queens, New, Oriel, Trinity, Pembroke, and Brasenose, showing how they were at the beginning of the 18th Century. They are in fact, in many instances, the only visual records of the buildings at this time in their history.

Condition: Central vertical fold, as issued. Slight foxing down fold, tear to bottom.
Framing unmounted
Price £100.00
Stock ID 45813

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