A History of the University of Oxford, its colleges, halls, and public buildings

Book Description

London: L.Harrison and J.C.Leigh for R.Ackermann, 1814 [watermarked 1812- 1814]. 2 volumes, large quarto. (13 3/8 x 11 inches). Half-titles. 6pp. subscribers' list. Engraved portrait of Lord Grenville by Henry Meyer after William Owen, 114 hand-coloured plates (comprising 64 aquatint views [two with overslips] by J.Bluck, J.C. Stadler, D.Havell, F.C.Lewis, J.Hill and others after A.Pugin, F.Mackenzie, W.Westall, F.Nash and others, 17 line and stipple engraved plates of the costume of the members of the university by J.Agar after T.Uwins, 33 line, stipple and occasionally aquatint portraits of the founders). (Lacking the 6pp. subscribers' list from vol.I i.e. pp.[ix]-xiv). Later green morocco gilt by Morell, covers with elaborate border composed from gilt and blind fillets, a decorative floral roll and cornerpieces with a stylized floral spray on a sémé of small gilt dots, expertly rebacked to style, the spines in seven compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second and fourth compartments, the others with repeat decoration in gilt composed from various small tools, gilt turn-ins, yellow-stained edges. An excellent copy, with pre-publication watermarks and clean bright early impressions of the plates. One of the great aquatint viewbooks, this work is a prerequisite for any serious collection of English topographical colour- plate books. Abbey records different states for eight of the plates. In the present copy Abbey's plates 39, 50 and 78 are in their first state, the remainder are all in their second states. The views, mostly after Pugin and Mackenzie, depict all of the most famous Oxford colleges. As with Ackermann's complementary work on Cambridge, each of the plates is enlivened by some detail of contemporary life. These `asides', generally showing members of the university or citizens of Oxford, serve both as points of interest in the plates, and as indicators of the scale of the buildings depicted. An unlooked-for by-product of this fine detailing is that it encourages the viewer to examine each plate with great care: what exactly is being prepared for dinner in the kitchen of Christ Church (see plate facing p.76, vol.II). The costume plates by Agar after Uwins have the appearance of being portraits of individuals (rather than clothes with generalized faces attached) and are also very fine. The text, understandably overlooked when competing for attention with the plates, repays careful study. College by college the author gives details of the founders, the names of subsequent benefactors together with their contributions. The physical descriptions of the colleges are next, and include details of the colleges greatest treasures: pictures, sculpture, books, etc. The college descriptions conclude with the names, dates and details of their presidents, together with similar notes on famous alumni. After these follow notes on the university halls, public buildings including the Radcliffe and Bodleian libraries, Ashmolean museum and the Physic garden. The text concludes with notes on the members of the university. Abbey Scenery 278; Tooley 5.

Not sure what some of these terms mean? Look it up in our glossary.