Old Church Drawing

This drawing is part of the category of old master drawings or what is known as 19th-century British drawings. Drafted and dated 1841, this Victorian-era drawing is a church or cathedral drawing sketch. It provides the inscription “East Side Cirencester Church 1841”.

Cirencester Church, also known as St. John the Baptist, is a parish church located in Cirencester, England. It is part of the church of England. The church itself is known for its Gothic, medieval architecture—the earliest part of the building date back to 1115 over 900 years ago and stands as a monument of the grand significance of British gothic architecture. When this drawing was made, it served as a gothic architecture sketch, such as the many castle drawings that have inspired artists for hundreds of years as old master drawings in landscape artworks. Artists of the classical era also sought to study the structure and magnificence of churches and cathedrals throughout Britain and Europe.

In the example of the present work, many prominent British artists have made studies or sketches of such architectural structures, such as the famed 18th and 19th-century artists John Constable, J.M.W. Turner, or Joseph Mallord William Turner, and countless artists that have come through such schools and Royal Institute of British Architects founded in 1837. This antique drawing for sale has been executed in the medium of pen and ink and graphite, a typical series of mediums used in such architectural studies.

10.20 x 10.45 inches.

The image and paper materials display toning to the surface, light staining, minor edge loss, light creasing to the edges of the paper, a small tear on the right edge of the sheet, the back of the sheet with mounting residue from an old picture frame mounting.