Leeds Castle, Kent, Antique Morris Woodblock Print, circa 1870

Water is as prominent as architecture in this antique print of Leeds Castle, Kent, printed in color by Benjamin Fawcett for Morris's Picturesque Views of Seats, circa 1870. The country house view takes in the full spread of the moated site: two linked stone islands, connected by an arched causeway, sit surrounded by the broad lake that gives the castle its defensive character, with mature trees closing the view behind.

A flock of sheep grazes and rests in the meadow along the near bank, and ducks appear further out as small dark marks on the paler, gently rippled surface of the lake. The castle's warm stone walls, their battlements and mullioned windows kept crisp under a light buff-gray tint, are doubled in a soft reflection, intentionally less distinct than the building above. The water is built from a darker base tone overprinted with lighter, broken strokes for ripples and reflected light.

William Mackenzie of London published A Series of Picturesque Views of Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland from the 1860s to the 1880s, edited by the Reverend Francis Orpen Morris (1810 to 1893), the clergyman and naturalist of History of British Birds fame; this plate is from an issue of circa 1870. Benjamin Fawcett (1808 to 1893) of Driffield, among the finest color woodblock printers of the Victorian period, printed each color from its own block in register; the color is printed rather than applied by hand.

This antique print of Leeds Castle, Kent, is an original Victorian plate removed from the book, ready for framing, and a fine choice for owners and admirers of the house or collectors of English country house views. The sheet carries its original wide margins, with the title Leeds Castle lettered in small capitals below the image.

This antique print is in good condition for its age. The paper shows light toning consistent with age, together with a few small spots in the margins, a small spot beside the lower right corner of the image, and a line of binding holes along the lower edge, where the plate was once bound into the book. Please review the images for further condition details.

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