Gezicht op een deel van de Grote of Sint-Stevenskerk te Nijmegen - Frans Buffa en Zonen

A detailed nineteenth-century lithograph of the Grote of Sint-Stevenskerk in Nijmegen, capturing the architectural character of the historic Dutch church.

This lithograph depicts the Grote of Sint-Stevenskerk in Nijmegen, a significant example of Dutch Gothic architecture. Published by the firm Frans Buffa en Zonen, the print captures the exterior of the church with technical precision. The composition focuses on the ornate stonework of the portal and the buttresses, rendered with fine lines that define the texture of the masonry. The artist, E. Koster, provides a sense of scale by including figures in contemporary nineteenth-century dress walking through the square. A small dog stands in the foreground, adding a domestic touch to the monumental setting.

The print demonstrates the technical capabilities of mid-nineteenth-century lithography, particularly in the handling of light and shadow across the church facade. The sky is rendered with soft, tonal washes, providing a contrast to the sharp, dark lines of the architectural details. The work reflects the period interest in documenting historic urban structures, a common practice for print publishers like Buffa en Zonen who catered to a market interested in topography and national heritage.

The Grote of Sint-Stevenskerk, originally consecrated in 1273, underwent various modifications over the centuries. This print preserves a specific view of the building before later restorations altered its appearance. The inclusion of the credit lines for the draughtsman, the stone printer J.D. Steuerwald, and the lithographer J. Hilverdink indicates the collaborative nature of commercial print production during this era. The work is a clear example of the topographical prints that were popular in the Netherlands, offering a window into the urban environment of Nijmegen during the mid-1800s.