|
Date: |
|
Description: | Colour lithograph . This print was drawn, lithographed and published by artist William Frederick Austin. At the centre of the composition is St Laurence’s Church, to the left of which is the Simeon Monument. This obelisk was commissioned by the wealthy banker Edward Simeon in 1804 and designed by Sir John Soane. Standing 25 feet high and made of Portland Stone, the monument supports three lanterns and was intended as a visual focus for the square. It was restored in 2007. This view also includes what was then the new Corn Exchange building, surmounted by a spire and weathervane to the left of the composition. The foundation stone was laid on Monday 18 September 1854 and the building, designed by architects Francis Hawkes and J. B. Clacy, opened in June the following year.
On the Saturday 27 September 1856, ‘The Reading Mercury’ reported the publication of this print as follows:
‘VIEW OF THE MARKET-PLACE. – An admirable lithograph engraving has been published by Mr. W. F. Austin, an artist residing in this town. The picture presents a full view of the Market-place, on either side, with the obelisk in the centre, and St. Lawrence’s church in the distance, giving it the appearance of being a very noble street.’ | Subjects: | church shop-front horse street weathervane wagon cart house topography market window woman dog chimney boy townscape/cityscape Victorian genre man pavement | Temporal: | 1856 | Source: | Government Art Collection | Creator: | William Frederick Kimmon Austin | Identifier: | http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/work.aspx?... | Go to resource |
|
|