{"title":"Francis Chesham","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"edinburgh-castle-francis-chesham","title":"Edinburgh Castle - Francis Chesham","description":"\u003cp\u003eA detailed 1779 etching and engraving of Edinburgh Castle by Francis Chesham, based on an original work by Paul Sandby.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis etching and engraving, published in 1779, depicts Edinburgh Castle as viewed from a distance. The work is based on an original painting by Paul Sandby, a figure of note in British topographical art. Francis Chesham, a skilled engraver of the period, translated Sandby's composition into this precise print format. The image is framed within an oval border, a common stylistic choice for eighteenth-century book illustrations and topographical collections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition presents the castle perched atop its volcanic crag, rendered with careful attention to the architectural details of the fortifications. Below the main scene, the print includes a decorative foreground element featuring a classical urn and two figures, which adds a sense of scale and artistic artifice to the view. This inclusion of staffage was a standard convention in the era, intended to provide a human element to the architectural subject. The cross-hatched shading within the oval frame provides a dark contrast to the lighter, more detailed depiction of the castle and the rocky outcrop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a piece of eighteenth-century printmaking, this work reflects the period's interest in documenting British sites for a growing audience of collectors and travellers. The technical execution demonstrates the precision required in copperplate engraving, where every line contributes to the tonal depth of the image. The print remains a record of how the Scottish capital was perceived and presented during the late Georgian era, balancing the rugged reality of the landscape with the refined aesthetic sensibilities of the time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/fr\/products\/neo-classical-vases-in-a-landscape-jean-charles-delafosse\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eNeo-classical Vases in a Landscape - Jean Charles Delafosse — Jean Charles Delafosse\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/fr\/products\/king-george-iii-and-queen-charlotte-benjamin-west\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eKing George III and Queen Charlotte - Benjamin West — Benjamin West\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Francis Chesham","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58695430996303,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58695434895695,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58695434928463,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58695434961231,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58695434993999,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58695435026767,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58695435059535,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58695435092303,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58695435125071,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58695435157839,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58695435190607,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58695435223375,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Edinburgh-Castle_Poster_CompositorV1_1788740077460.jpg?v=1788741220"},{"product_id":"view-of-the-gateway-of-the-old-abbey-at-reading-francis-chesham","title":"View of the Gateway of the Old Abbey at Reading - Francis Chesham","description":"\u003cp\u003eA 1779 etching by Francis Chesham, after Paul Sandby, depicting the historic gateway of Reading Abbey in a picturesque topographical style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis etching and engraving, published in 1779, depicts the ruins of the Reading Abbey gateway. The print is based on an original design by Paul Sandby, a figure of significant influence in the development of British topographical art. Francis Chesham, a skilled engraver, translated Sandby's composition into this monochrome format, capturing the atmospheric quality of the site through varied line work and cross-hatching.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition focuses on the heavy masonry of the medieval gateway, which occupies the left side of the frame. The architectural details, including the pointed arch and weathered stonework, are rendered with precision. Figures on horseback and a pedestrian provide a sense of scale, grounding the historical structure in the daily life of the late eighteenth century. To the right, the scene opens into a rural vista, with trees and a distant horizon illuminated by a sunburst effect in the sky. This contrast between the solid, decaying stone and the expansive, light-filled environment is a characteristic feature of the period's interest in the picturesque.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTopographical prints of this era were produced to satisfy a growing public interest in the history and geography of the British Isles. By documenting sites like Reading Abbey, artists provided a visual record for collectors and antiquarians. The inclusion of the publication line at the bottom, noting G. Kearsly of Fleet Street, identifies this as a commercial print intended for wide distribution. The work remains a clear example of the technical proficiency of British printmakers during the late Georgian period, demonstrating a balance between architectural accuracy and the dramatic use of light and shadow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/fr\/products\/neo-classical-vases-in-a-landscape-jean-charles-delafosse\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eNeo-classical Vases in a Landscape - Jean Charles Delafosse — Jean Charles Delafosse\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/fr\/products\/hurdy-gurdy-player-jean-jacques-de-boissieu\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eHurdy-Gurdy Player - Jean-Jacques de Boissieu — Jean-Jacques de Boissieu\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Francis Chesham","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58751430066511,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58751437078863,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58751437111631,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58751437144399,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58751437177167,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58751437209935,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58751437242703,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58751437275471,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58751437308239,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58751437341007,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58751437373775,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58751437406543,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/View-of-the-Gateway-of-the-Old-Abbey-at-Reading_Poster_CompositorV1_1789152039952.jpg?v=1789153157"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/fr\/collections\/francis-chesham.oembed","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}