An important early 18th century prospect of London

KIP, Johannes.

La Ville de Londres. Prospectus Londinensis.
London, c.1720. Coloured. Two sheets conjoined as issued, total 490 x 1180mm.

Repairs to folds on verso.

A fine prospect of London from south of the river, with an English title and a key of buildings underneath and the title in French and Latin within a banderol held up in the sky by cherubs.
The prospect celebrates the rebuilding of the City following the Great Fire of 1666: showing from St Clement's Church on the Strand east to the Tower, most of the key given to churches rebuilt by Christopher Wren and his associates. St. Paul's Cathedral is shown as complete except for the scrolled parapet above the East apse; St Clement Danes lacks the upper stages added by Gibbs in 1719-20, and the Custom House is still Wren's, despite burning down in 1718. London Bridge is covered in buildings, with the severed heads of criminals clearly visible on the gatehouse. On the riverside is the 'Steelyard', base of the Hanseatic League in London since at least 1282, as rebuilt after the Great Fire. Moored off Bankside and flying the City flag is the 'Folly', a barge adapted as a floating concert room, usually anchored near the Savoy. The Royal Arms under the banderol date from 1707-14.
This exceptional prospect was published in the 'Nouveau Theatre de la Grande Bretagne ou Description Exacte des Archevechez & Evechez d' Angleterre', a monumental, four-volume series of plates of British cities, towns, ports and country houses.


Stock ID : 22756