Description
Inscribed on old label verso " H W Williams Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat painted about 1826 and engraved by W.Miller, Lent by FF Tuckett." watercolour heightened with white
Dimensions
44cm x 62cm (17.25in x 24.25in)
Footnote
Exhibited:Calton Conversing Rooms, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, February 1826 as 'Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat', partly coloured on the spot. A beautiful engraving from this drawing, by Miller is nearly completed.
Engraved:W.Miller as 'A View of Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat', 1826
Note::A flyer for Miller's engraving issued by John and Arthur Rich, Colnaghi's and the 'Printsellers of Edinburgh' states that ' The View is taken at Mid-day from a point immediately below the summit of Arthur's Seat, on the south side; and comprises most of the interesting objects of the Old and New Town, with Calton Hill, the Corstorphine Hills, and Dalmeny Park, the windings of the Forth, with the interesting scenery on its banks; including on the north, the Coast of Fife and the Ochills; and, in the extreme distance, Ben Lomond and others of the Grampian Chain'
The price of the print was 18 shillings for proofs on india paper and £2.2.0 for each proof before writing is inserted. In the print the man with the telescope is replaced by two sheep and the Royal High School is included on the right, without it's pediment as it was left late in 1826 after the sequestration of the builder; it was finally completed in 1829. The National Monument on the hill, above with which Williams was closely involved, was begun in June 1826.
A letter from the artist James Giles to Miller's son of 17 September 1883 states that 'Your father attained to eminence some time before I was with him.......He also engraved in 1826, a large plate from William's picture of Arthur's Seat - this, I believe was at the instigation if not the risk of the late Francis Tuckett, who I have heard your grandmother say, used to sit by him while he was at work.' (W.F Miller, Memorials of Hope Park, 1898, p.158)
A further engraving after this composition also by Miller was published by Shepherd and Elliott of Edinburgh in 1846. In this both the National Monument and the Scott Monument are included, though the lady's parasol is omitted.