The Court of Claims, In the Painted Room of the Palace of Westminster

1824. A View of the Court of Claims in the Early Nineteenth Century Stephanoff, James [1788-1874], After. Reynolds, S[amuel] W[illiam] [1773-1835], Engraver. The Court of Claims, In the Painted Room of the Palace of Westminster. London: Published by Sir George Naylor, [1839]. Glazed and matted hand-colored mezzotint. Image size: 16" x 13-1/2" (40.5 x 34.2 cm). Housed in a handsome 27-1/2" x 15" (70 x 38 cm) wood frame. Light, uniform toning to margins; the hand-colored image remains exceptionally vivid and clean. An attractive, well-preserved piece. $950. * A choice plate from Sir George Nayler's monumental work, The Coronation of His Most Sacred Majesty King George the Fourth (London, 1839). While the majority of the volume's architectural views were executed in aquatint, this striking depiction of the Court of Claims stands out as a dedicated color mezzotint by S.W. Reynolds. Established in 1377, this historic court is traditionally convened following the accession of a new British sovereign. It sits to judge the validity of petitions from nobles and dignitaries claiming the hereditary right to perform honorary services during the coronation ceremony. James Stephanoff was a premier British watercolorist who specialized in grand ceremonial occasions, pageantry, and historical scenes. Samuel William Reynolds was one of the most celebrated master engravers of the 19th century, particularly renowned for his technical brilliance in mezzotint work Whitman, Samuel William Reynolds 449.