“Dytchley House,” Alexander Francis Lydon (1836–1917), c.1880, Baxter-process multi-block colored woodblock engraving printed by Benjamin Fawcett (1808–1893), published by William Mackenzie; sheet approx. 10½ × 8 in., image approx. 7¼ × 5⅛ in., unsigned as issued.
An elegant Victorian Baxter-process colored woodblock engraving of Dytchley House, illustrated by Alexander Francis Lydon and printed by Benjamin Fawcett for William Mackenzie’s landmark 1880s series Picturesque Views of Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland. This lush garden landscape presents the estate at its most refined, framed by sculpted parterres, fountains, and glowing evening skies.
Artwork Description
This richly colored engraving portrays Dytchley House bathed in warm afternoon light beneath a sky filled with towering, golden clouds. Lydon’s precise architectural draftsmanship brings the stately façade into crisp focus—its symmetrical windows, classical stonework, and rooftop ornaments described with careful Victorian clarity.
A sweeping formal garden unfolds across the foreground, composed of circular and rectilinear parterres bordered with white gravel beds and manicured greenery. Ornamental fountains punctuate the garden, their sculpted basins adding balance and rhythm to the meticulously planned landscape. To the right, a conservatory-like glass extension and a small tower with a domed cupola enrich the architectural composition and hint at the luxuries of aristocratic estate life.
Executed through Fawcett’s advanced Baxter-process, the print was built from numerous color woodblocks layered in transparent inks—allowing gentle transitions in the sky, naturalistic greens in the landscape, and subtle mid-tones throughout the architecture. This plate exemplifies the height of Victorian color printing and Lydon’s ability to harmonize structure, light, and atmosphere.
Artist & Printer Biographies
ALEXANDER FRANCIS LYDON (1836–1917)
A leading Victorian illustrator known for his refined draughtsmanship and atmospheric landscapes. Lydon specialized in country houses, natural history subjects, and architectural studies, working closely with printer Benjamin Fawcett for over two decades. His estate plates remain essential records of Britain’s grand houses as they appeared in the 19th century.
BENJAMIN FAWCETT (1808–1893)
A pioneering color printer whose workshop in Driffield, Yorkshire produced some of the finest multi-block wood engravings of the Victorian era. His adaptation of the Baxter-process created prints of remarkable clarity, color stability, and tonal subtlety. His collaborations with Lydon are among the most respected examples of British illustrated printing.
WILLIAM MACKENZIE — Publisher
Publisher of many monumental Victorian illustrated volumes, including the Picturesque Views series—a foundational record of Britain’s aristocratic estates. His editions remain highly collectible for both historical and artistic significance.
Alexander Francis Lydon (illustrator), Benjamin Fawcett (printer), “Dytchley House,” c.1880. Baxter-process multi-block colored woodblock engraving from Picturesque Views of Seats. Sheet approx. 10½ × 8 in.; image approx. 7¼ × 5⅛ in. Excellent color and detail, clean sheet, never framed; very good vintage condition.
CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
For Fine Art Appraisal / Insurance / Gallery Documentation
Title: Dytchley House
Illustrator: Alexander Francis Lydon (1836–1917)
Printer: Benjamin Fawcett (1808–1893)
Publisher: William Mackenzie
Date: c.1880
Medium: Baxter-process multi-block colored woodblock engraving
Sheet Size: approx. 10½ × 8 in.
Image Size: approx. 7¼ × 5⅛ in.
Condition: Excellent impression, luminous color, clean margins; never framed
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Authentication: Confirmed original period plate from the Lydon–Fawcett Picturesque Views series.
Provenance
Published by William Mackenzie, London (c.1880)
Private British collection
Mitch Moore Gallery Inc., NYC
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
“Dytchley House,” Alexander Francis Lydon (1836–1917), c.1880, Baxter-process multi-block colored woodblock engraving printed by Benjamin Fawcett (1808–1893), published by William Mackenzie; sheet approx. 10½ × 8 in., image approx. 7¼ × 5⅛ in., unsigned as issued.
An elegant Victorian Baxter-process colored woodblock engraving of Dytchley House, illustrated by Alexander Francis Lydon and printed by Benjamin Fawcett for William Mackenzie’s landmark 1880s series Picturesque Views of Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland. This lush garden landscape presents the estate at its most refined, framed by sculpted parterres, fountains, and glowing evening skies.
Artwork Description
This richly colored engraving portrays Dytchley House bathed in warm afternoon light beneath a sky filled with towering, golden clouds. Lydon’s precise architectural draftsmanship brings the stately façade into crisp focus—its symmetrical windows, classical stonework, and rooftop ornaments described with careful Victorian clarity.
A sweeping formal garden unfolds across the foreground, composed of circular and rectilinear parterres bordered with white gravel beds and manicured greenery. Ornamental fountains punctuate the garden, their sculpted basins adding balance and rhythm to the meticulously planned landscape. To the right, a conservatory-like glass extension and a small tower with a domed cupola enrich the architectural composition and hint at the luxuries of aristocratic estate life.
Executed through Fawcett’s advanced Baxter-process, the print was built from numerous color woodblocks layered in transparent inks—allowing gentle transitions in the sky, naturalistic greens in the landscape, and subtle mid-tones throughout the architecture. This plate exemplifies the height of Victorian color printing and Lydon’s ability to harmonize structure, light, and atmosphere.
Artist & Printer Biographies
ALEXANDER FRANCIS LYDON (1836–1917)
A leading Victorian illustrator known for his refined draughtsmanship and atmospheric landscapes. Lydon specialized in country houses, natural history subjects, and architectural studies, working closely with printer Benjamin Fawcett for over two decades. His estate plates remain essential records of Britain’s grand houses as they appeared in the 19th century.
BENJAMIN FAWCETT (1808–1893)
A pioneering color printer whose workshop in Driffield, Yorkshire produced some of the finest multi-block wood engravings of the Victorian era. His adaptation of the Baxter-process created prints of remarkable clarity, color stability, and tonal subtlety. His collaborations with Lydon are among the most respected examples of British illustrated printing.
WILLIAM MACKENZIE — Publisher
Publisher of many monumental Victorian illustrated volumes, including the Picturesque Views series—a foundational record of Britain’s aristocratic estates. His editions remain highly collectible for both historical and artistic significance.
Alexander Francis Lydon (illustrator), Benjamin Fawcett (printer), “Dytchley House,” c.1880. Baxter-process multi-block colored woodblock engraving from Picturesque Views of Seats. Sheet approx. 10½ × 8 in.; image approx. 7¼ × 5⅛ in. Excellent color and detail, clean sheet, never framed; very good vintage condition.
CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
For Fine Art Appraisal / Insurance / Gallery Documentation
Title: Dytchley House
Illustrator: Alexander Francis Lydon (1836–1917)
Printer: Benjamin Fawcett (1808–1893)
Publisher: William Mackenzie
Date: c.1880
Medium: Baxter-process multi-block colored woodblock engraving
Sheet Size: approx. 10½ × 8 in.
Image Size: approx. 7¼ × 5⅛ in.
Condition: Excellent impression, luminous color, clean margins; never framed
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Authentication: Confirmed original period plate from the Lydon–Fawcett Picturesque Views series.
Provenance
Published by William Mackenzie, London (c.1880)
Private British collection
Mitch Moore Gallery Inc., NYC
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Image 1 of 7
Image 2 of 7
Image 3 of 7
Image 4 of 7
Image 5 of 7
Image 6 of 7
Image 7 of 7
