A View of the Inside of St. Stephens Walbrook, Done from the Drawing in his Majesty's Collection 1762 - 1772

Editor: This is Georges François Blondel’s “A View of the Inside of St. Stephens Walbrook, Done from the Drawing in his Majesty's Collection," created between 1762 and 1772. It’s an engraving, and the perspective is just stunning. The crowd gathered inside really conveys the scale of the architecture. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: I immediately think of the labor involved in producing such a detailed engraving. Consider the physical process: the tools, the time, the skill required to translate architectural grandeur into a reproducible image. How does this shift our understanding of access to and consumption of art and architectural knowledge in the 18th century? Editor: That's a fascinating point. I was so focused on the final image that I hadn't fully considered the labor of its creation. So, the fact that it's a print democratizes access, but also relies on specialized and demanding craft. Curator: Precisely! We can delve deeper into the social context. Who commissioned this print? Who was the intended audience? Understanding the system of patronage and distribution can reveal insights into the values and priorities of the time. How might this print have been used – as an aesthetic object, a status symbol, or a tool for architectural study? Editor: It really reframes the artwork as more than just a picture; it's a document reflecting production and consumption of art and architecture in a broader sense. Thank you, I see this print very differently now! Curator: Absolutely! Considering art through its materials and making, and not just aesthetics, often reveals hidden layers of meaning.