“Leeds Castle,” Alexander Francis Lydon (1836–1917), c.1880, Baxter-process multi-block colored woodblock engraving printed by Benjamin Fawcett (1808–1893) and published by William Mackenzie; sheet approx. 10½ × 8 in., image approx. 7¼ × 5⅛ in., unsigned as issued.
A superb Victorian Baxter-process colored woodblock engraving of Leeds Castle, illustrated by Alexander Francis Lydon and printed by master color printer Benjamin Fawcett for William Mackenzie’s renowned Picturesque Views of Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland. The image beautifully portrays the iconic moated castle, set serenely within its sweeping parkland landscape.
Artwork Description
This finely executed 19th-century engraving depicts Leeds Castle, long celebrated as one of England’s most romantic and historically significant fortified residences. Lydon captures the estate’s dramatic architecture—the medieval towers, crenellated battlements, and stone gatehouse rising above the water of the surrounding moat—with his trademark clarity and precision.
The castle sits calmly amid a reflective lake whose surface gently mirrors the structure. In the foreground, grazing sheep animate the expansive green lawns, grounding the grand medieval setting in the pastoral quietude of the English countryside. Overhead, a textured sky of layered clouds adds depth and atmosphere without competing with the architectural focus.
Printed using the Baxter-process multi-woodblock technique, the engraving displays the delicate layering of tones characteristic of Benjamin Fawcett’s press: warm stone hues, soft greens in the landscape, and clean transitions in the water and sky. Lydon’s mastery of structure and perspective is evident in the crisp depiction of the bridge arches and the castle’s varied elevations.
This print serves not only as an artwork but also as an architectural record of Leeds Castle as it appeared in the late Victorian era.
Artist & Printer Biographies
ALEXANDER FRANCIS LYDON (1836–1917)
A leading Victorian illustrator known for his precise architectural and natural history imagery. Lydon worked extensively with printer Benjamin Fawcett, producing some of the most technically accomplished color engravings of the 19th century. His works—especially in the Picturesque Views series—are valued for their beauty, accuracy, and documentary importance.
BENJAMIN FAWCETT (1808–1893)
Considered one of the greatest color printers of the century, Fawcett was a pioneering figure in multi-block color wood engraving. His partnership with Lydon produced a body of work unmatched in technical quality and artistic refinement. Each print required meticulous hand-inking and precise alignment of multiple blocks.
WILLIAM MACKENZIE — Publisher
A major publisher of illustrated Victorian volumes, Mackenzie issued the Picturesque Views series to great acclaim. The books are now prized both for their visual artistry and for documenting numerous estates whose appearance changed significantly over time.
Alexander Francis Lydon (illustrator), Benjamin Fawcett (printer), “Leeds Castle,” c.1880. Baxter-process colored woodblock engraving from Picturesque Views. Sheet approx. 10½ × 8 in.; image approx. 7¼ × 5⅛ in. Crisp impression with excellent color; minor age toning; unframed.
CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
For Fine Art Appraisal / Insurance / Gallery Documentation
Title: Leeds Castle
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 color; sharp detail; mild scattered aging; never framed
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Authentication: Confirmed original engraving from the Lydon–Fawcett Picturesque Views series.
Provenance
Published by William Mackenzie, London (c.1880)
Private UK collection
Mitch Moore Gallery Inc., NYC
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
“Leeds Castle,” Alexander Francis Lydon (1836–1917), c.1880, Baxter-process multi-block colored woodblock engraving printed by Benjamin Fawcett (1808–1893) and published by William Mackenzie; sheet approx. 10½ × 8 in., image approx. 7¼ × 5⅛ in., unsigned as issued.
A superb Victorian Baxter-process colored woodblock engraving of Leeds Castle, illustrated by Alexander Francis Lydon and printed by master color printer Benjamin Fawcett for William Mackenzie’s renowned Picturesque Views of Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland. The image beautifully portrays the iconic moated castle, set serenely within its sweeping parkland landscape.
Artwork Description
This finely executed 19th-century engraving depicts Leeds Castle, long celebrated as one of England’s most romantic and historically significant fortified residences. Lydon captures the estate’s dramatic architecture—the medieval towers, crenellated battlements, and stone gatehouse rising above the water of the surrounding moat—with his trademark clarity and precision.
The castle sits calmly amid a reflective lake whose surface gently mirrors the structure. In the foreground, grazing sheep animate the expansive green lawns, grounding the grand medieval setting in the pastoral quietude of the English countryside. Overhead, a textured sky of layered clouds adds depth and atmosphere without competing with the architectural focus.
Printed using the Baxter-process multi-woodblock technique, the engraving displays the delicate layering of tones characteristic of Benjamin Fawcett’s press: warm stone hues, soft greens in the landscape, and clean transitions in the water and sky. Lydon’s mastery of structure and perspective is evident in the crisp depiction of the bridge arches and the castle’s varied elevations.
This print serves not only as an artwork but also as an architectural record of Leeds Castle as it appeared in the late Victorian era.
Artist & Printer Biographies
ALEXANDER FRANCIS LYDON (1836–1917)
A leading Victorian illustrator known for his precise architectural and natural history imagery. Lydon worked extensively with printer Benjamin Fawcett, producing some of the most technically accomplished color engravings of the 19th century. His works—especially in the Picturesque Views series—are valued for their beauty, accuracy, and documentary importance.
BENJAMIN FAWCETT (1808–1893)
Considered one of the greatest color printers of the century, Fawcett was a pioneering figure in multi-block color wood engraving. His partnership with Lydon produced a body of work unmatched in technical quality and artistic refinement. Each print required meticulous hand-inking and precise alignment of multiple blocks.
WILLIAM MACKENZIE — Publisher
A major publisher of illustrated Victorian volumes, Mackenzie issued the Picturesque Views series to great acclaim. The books are now prized both for their visual artistry and for documenting numerous estates whose appearance changed significantly over time.
Alexander Francis Lydon (illustrator), Benjamin Fawcett (printer), “Leeds Castle,” c.1880. Baxter-process colored woodblock engraving from Picturesque Views. Sheet approx. 10½ × 8 in.; image approx. 7¼ × 5⅛ in. Crisp impression with excellent color; minor age toning; unframed.
CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
For Fine Art Appraisal / Insurance / Gallery Documentation
Title: Leeds Castle
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 color; sharp detail; mild scattered aging; never framed
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Authentication: Confirmed original engraving from the Lydon–Fawcett Picturesque Views series.
Provenance
Published by William Mackenzie, London (c.1880)
Private UK collection
Mitch Moore Gallery Inc., NYC
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
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