Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is notable for its long association with the English and later British royal family and for its architecture.
The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by the reigning monarch and is the longest-occupied palace in Europe. The castle’s lavish early 19th-century State Apartments were described by early 20th century art historian Hugh Roberts as “a superb and unrivalled sequence of rooms widely regarded as the finest and most complete expression of later Georgian taste”. Inside the castle walls is the 15th-century St George’s Chapel, considered by the historian John Martin Robinson to be “one of the supreme achievements of English Perpendicular Gothic” design. Reference: Wikipedia
NASH, Joseph. 1809-1878. Views of the Interior and Exterior of Windsor Castle. London: Thomas M’Lean, 1848. Folio (720 x 529 mm). 25 chromolithographed plates finished by hand by Nash, mounted on card and outlined in gold. Title printed in blue with hand-coloured vignette, dedication to Queen Victoria printed in blue. Publisher’s half tan morocco over blue velvet covered boards, upper cover lettered in gilt. Slight wear to spine, corners bumped.
VERY RARE “ROYAL” ISSUE, WITH THE PLATES HAND FINISHED BY NASH AND MOUNTED ON CARD. “…On the various occasions when the Continental Sovereigns were entertained by Her Majesty at Windsor Castle, Mr. Nash had the honour of receiving Her Majesty’s commands to make Drawings of the scenes illustrative of the state and ceremony which distinguish the Royal hospitality … From those Drawings originated the idea of making a Series of Plates that should embrace, not only the already well-known Views of the Castle, and the Apartments denominated ‘State’ but those less known and visited, the more elegant and private portion of the Castle; more particularly the Residence of the Sovereign…As this Work is entirely of a pictorial character, it has not been thought necessary to enter into any lengthened description of the Plates. It has been made with no reference to historical or architectural considerations; its sole aim being to present a faithful and agreeable representation of scenes to which all who have visited them will recur with pleasurable interest …” (preliminary text). Among the most elaborate and beautiful of Nash’s publications and an early example of three-color printing (Abbey). Abbey, Scenery 360; Tooley 339.
Sold for US$ 7,500 (£ 5,762) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2017
View of Windsor Castle from a field below, with round tower at far right. Etching Print made by: Henry Bellenden Ker British Date 1812 (circa)
Reference: © The Trustees of the British Museum
[FORE-EDGE] FAIRHOLT, F.W. Costume in England: A history of dress… London: Chapman and Hall, 1846. Full red morocco of the period, all edges gilt, in a modern slipcase. The volume bears a concealed fore-edge painting (of later vintage) under the gilt. 8 3/8 x 5 1/4 inches (21.5 x 13.5 cm); 618 pp. Light wear, with a fore-edge of Windsor Castle.
Sold for $250 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2019
Windsor Castle 1644 Wenceslaus Hollar Bohemian
View of Windsor Castle, from the south east; a coach escorted by armed horsemen drives towards the castle; a tree in left foreground
Reference: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Windsor Castle from the Thames Raphael Tuck & Sons (English, 1886–1960)
Chromolithograph on card stock
Front: Raphael Tuck & Sons “View” Post Card No. 39 Designed in England, Chromographed in Bavaria Back: undivided. Mint.
Reference: Museum of Fine Arts Boston
William Daniell 1769 – 1837 THE LONG WALK, WINDSOR GREAT PARK, THE CASTLE BEYOND AND DEER IN A GLEN IN WINDSOR GREAT PARK NEAR BISHOPSGATE: TWO PRINTS
Both of these works were included Daniell’s, Select Views of Windsor Castle, 1827-30, pl. 9 and pl. 10. each inscribed in pencil Drawn & Engraved by W Daniell RA lower right aquatints with hand-coloring, mounted each, sight: 11 7/8 by 19 5/8 in. 30 by 50 cm
Sold for 1,250 USD at Sotheby’s in 2015