1808 Hand-coloured Aquatint ‘Old Bailey’ by Rowlandson, Pugin & Stadler — Ackermann Microcosm of London

1808 Hand-Coloured Aquatint ‘Old Bailey’ by Rowlandson, Pugin & Stadler — Ackermann Microcosm of London

A genuine original Georgian hand-coloured aquatint engraving titled "Old Bailey", published in London on March 1, 1808, by Rudolph Ackermann at his famous Repository of Arts, 101 Strand.

This piece is Plate Number 58 from the iconic masterpiece series The Microcosm of London. The print features a collaborative composition by two of the era's greatest masters: architectural layout by Augustus Pugin and the bustling, expressive figural work by the renowned caricaturist Thomas Rowlandson. The plate was expertly engraved in aquatint by the master craftsman Joseph Constantine Stadler, producing deep, atmospheric shadows that are beautifully brought to life with original hand-applied watercolour washes.

The scene details a high-tension trial inside the packed, historic courtroom of the Old Bailey, capturing the prisoners in the dock, the array of judges and barristers, and the crowded public galleries.

The print is mounted inside a contemporary white display mat board and is entirely ready for framing. A premier investment piece for legal historians, collectors of early London topography, or enthusiasts of high-period Georgian printmaking.

• Artists: Thomas Rowlandson & Augustus Pugin

• Aquatint Engraver: Joseph Constantine Stadler

• Publisher & Date: Rudolph Ackermann, 1 March 1808

• Material: Hand-coloured aquatint on heavy period woven rag paper

• Condition: Good antique condition. The plate impression remains wonderfully sharp and clean. The watercolour washes are bright, clear, and tastefully applied with zero heavy bleed. The paper is clean across the entire visible aperture, free of foxing, water stains, or losses.

Dimensions

• Mat Board Outer Width: 39.5 cm (approx. 15.5 inches)

• Mat Board Outer Height: 33.5 cm (approx. 13.2 inches)

• Visible Print Aperture Width: 28.0 cm (approx. 11.0 inches)

• Visible Print Aperture Height: 23.3 cm (approx. 9.2 inches)

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