Encampment of Henry VIII at Marquison (after Samuel Hieronymus Grimm)
James Basire the elder (London 1730 – London 1802)
Category
Art / Prints
Date
1788
Materials
Paper, Wood
Measurements
57 cm (h)43 cm (w)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Vyne Estate, Hampshire
NT 718717
Summary
Print, engraving by James Basire the Elder after a drawing by Samuel Hieronymous Grimm and published by the Royal Society of Antiquaries in 1788. Based on the original paintings at Cowdray Park, Sussex. Black frame, bevelled. The original painting was destroyed in the 1793 fire at Cowdray Park. From "An Account of Some English Historical Paintings at Cowdry, in Sussex By Sir Joseph Ayloffe": The front or foreground of this piece represents a champaign country, covered with baggage and ammunition waggons, artillery, and a great number of different sorts of tents, labouring under the utmost distress from a violent and incessant storm of wind and lightning, which is expressed in a masterly manner. Here we see several tents blown down, and lying on the ground; whilst the soldiers and women, in all the pangs of fright and horror, are endeavouring to creep from under the shattered ruins, and seem apprehensive of being again buried under the neighbouring tottering tents. Others have their tent-pins drawn, and are represented as falling, whilst the soldiers and artillery-men, harrassed by the stress of weather, and scarce able to stand against the force of the wind, weakly endeavour to keep them up. Of those that are left standing, some are torn in pieces by the wind, and others have their curtains blown open, and waving in the air. In the back ground is a view of the church and village of Marquison all on fire, occasioned, as tradition hath it, by the flashes of lightning. The historians of that time take no notice of this storm; but the above quoted Diary alludes to it, where it says "The King camped that night at Marquison, being a very great tempestuous night of rain and thunder."
Makers and roles
James Basire the elder (London 1730 – London 1802) , engraver (printmaker) Samuel Hieronymus Grimm (Burgdorf 1733 – London 1794), artist Society of Antiquaries of London, publisher