Antique View of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, Steel Engraving, circa 1850

The Royal Hospital at Chelsea, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption below the image reads CHELSEA-HOSPITAL bei London, that is, Chelsea Hospital near London.

The hospital is seen across an open lawn, its pedimented central portico topped by a cupola and weather vane, with long brick ranges, rows of dormer windows and clusters of tall chimneys stretching away to the right, where a smaller pedimented block stands at the end. Two tall trees frame the left side. A crowd of men and women in the dress of the day gathers in the foreground behind an iron railing that runs across the plate, two women stroll on the grass beyond it, and a man swings a scythe on the lawn.

The plate is lettered at lower left, just below the image, "C. Reiss del.t" (drawn by C. Reiss). The imprint at lower left reads Aus d. Kunstanst. d. Bibliogr. Inst. in Hildbh. (from the art works of the Bibliographisches Institut in Hildburghausen), and at lower right Eigenthum d. Verleger (property of the publishers). The plate number CCCCIX is engraved at the top right.

The sheet comes from a dealer's album rather than from a bound set. Meyer's Universum was a serial collection of engraved views with descriptive text, published by Joseph Meyer's Bibliographisches Institut at Hildburghausen from 1833, its plates engraved on steel. The Royal Hospital was founded by Charles II in 1682 as a home for old and disabled soldiers, and its buildings were designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

Loss or wear at the bottom left, bottom right, top left and top right corners. A deeper irregularity along the right edge. Even age toning.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.