Rudolph Ackermann 'Aquatints'

 | Home | \ Site Index | Links

Opening times:
Monday,
Friday,
Saturday
or by telephone/email
..Heatons.
01747 870048 or 873025
**Payment is via Paypal if other methods are preferred please contact the shop directly**

Rudolph Ackermann (1764-1834) pioneered lithography and produced some of the best early colour printing in Britain, publishing numerous fine illustrated volumes, and magazines .

He was born on April 20, 1764 in Stolberg. Apprenticed to his father a coach-builder, he moved first to Dresden, then to Paris and eventually to London whilst still working at coach-building. In 1795 he married and set up a print shop at 96 The Strand, moving the following year to 101 The Strand. He had already taken over a drawing school originally established at this address by William Shipley, the founder of the Society of Arts, and maintained it until 1806.

The first major colour plate book he published was The Microcosm of London; (or London in Miniature) which appeared in monthly parts between 1808 and 1810. Printed on hot-pressed handmade paper, books were illustrated using coloured aquatints. The architectural backgrounds were drawn by Augustus Pugin and the figures were drawn by Thomas Rowlandson. Ackermann originally planned to issue the book in twenty-four numbers at 7/6d a number, but he soon found himself obliged to raise the price to 10/6d, and the number of parts to twenty-six. Successful production techniques and methods of marketing by subscription prompted him to follow the same plan with his next publications. For the reproduction of the drawings by Pugin and Rowlandson, five different engravers were used to produce the plates: fifty-four by J. Bluck, twenty-nine by J.C. Stadler, ten by T. Sutherland, ten by J. Hill and one by Harraden. From 1790 - 1830 the principle process in book illustration was aquatint engraving. Once the drawing and the engraving had been made, the colour process began. The engravings might be printed in two colours, perhaps brown for the foreground and blue for the sky and distance, the remaining colour would be applied by hand. Ackermann employed colourists and engravers at his 'Repository of Arts' but like most publishers he would also have used pieceworkers. Bundles of sheets to be coloured would be distributed to workers who would do the work in their own homes. Often the work was done by children, but sometimes whole families would work together at home by candlelight.Handcolouring can save money when printing large plates although people like Ackermann stressed the high cost of hand finishing. He used poorly paid French refugees and later hand coloured plate producers used children and stencils.

 

Carleton House. Pall Mall, London. / Carlton House

Rowlandson & Pugin del et Sculpt. J.C. Stadler Aquat. London, Pub. Full page Original Aquatint from .The "Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics, commonly known as Ackermann's Repository, after Rudolph Ackermann, its publisher .... first appeared in London in 1809 as a monthly publication Dated 1811 at 101 Strand Image 20 x 12 cm Page 54 x 36 cm so Full margins ! £105

The Staircase, Carlton House. Pall Mall, London.

Rowlandson & Pugin del et Sculpt. J.C. Stadler Aquat. London, Pub. Full page Original Aquatint from .The "Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics, commonly known as Ackermann's Repository, after Rudolph Ackermann, its publisher .... first appeared in London in 1809 as a monthly publication Dated 1811 at 101 Strand Image 20 x 30 cm Page 54 x 36 cm so Full margins ! £115 also another cropped copy mounted at £85

Carlton House. Pall Mall, London.

Rowlandson & Pugin del et Sculpt. J.C. Stadler Aquat. London, Pub. July 1st July, 1809 at R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts 101 Strand. for the Repository of Arts Vol/Plate: 6/19. In addition to the impression in Select Views(Papworth) City of Westminster Library have three versions of this print, one of the outline etching only; one with outline etching and aquatint, uncoloured; and one with the outline etching and aquatint coloured Coloured aquatint. full borders /full page £125 Image 32 x 13 cm Page 54 x 36 cm so Full margins !

34. Russell Institution, Great Coram Street

 

Full page Original Aquatint from .The "Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics, commonly known as Ackermann's Repository, after Rudolph Ackermann, its publisher .... first appeared in London in 1809 as a monthly publication Dated 1811 at 101 Strand. Rowlandson & Pugin del et Sculpt. J.C. Stadler Aquat. London, Image 20 x 13 cm Page 54 x 36 cm so Full margins ! £95

101. South Sea House, Dividend Hall

from ACKERMANN'S MICROCOSM OF LONDON (1808) 104 Handcoloured aquatints in three volumes, issued in parts between 1808 and 1810. Published by Rudolph Ackermann, this series is of interest in setting a new standard for the figures "staffage" in topographical prints. This was achieved by an exceptional partnership between Augustus Pugin, who made the architectural drawing, and Thomas Rowlandson, who added the figures, frequently caricatures. The majority of the plates were aquatinted by J. Bluck and Joseph Stadler . . this one is by Sutherland . This series of prints is Series 99 as catalogued in London Illustrated 1604-1851 by Bernard Adams. The image is The Long Room, Custom House. This is the earlier sepia aquatint as sold £95 good margins let ito a larger sheet of paper 'window' style to protect it probably years ago

The Royal Mint pub18o9 by Pugin & Rowlandson for Ackermann's MICROCOSM OF LONDON (1808.. 1810) The partnership between Augustus Pugin, who made the architectural drawing, and Thomas Rowlandson, who added the figures, frequently caricatures. The majority of the plates were aquatinted by J. Bluck and Joseph Stadler. Condition still bright framed at present £88

the Post Office pub1809 by Pugin & Rowlandson for Ackermann's MICROCOSM OF LONDON (1808.. 1810) The partnership between Augustus Pugin, who made the architectural drawing, and Thomas Rowlandson, who added the figures, frequently caricatures. The majority of the plates were aquatinted by J. Bluck and Joseph Stadler. Condition good still bright framed at present £88

Salmon Fishing at Lurley pub1820 by Pugin & Rowlandson for Ackermann's Repository £88

The Horse Armoury at the Tower pub1810 by Pugin & Rowlandson for Ackermann's MICROCOSM OF LONDON (1808.. 1810) The partnership between Augustus Pugin, who made the architectural drawing, and Thomas Rowlandson, who added the figures, frequently caricatures. The majority of the plates were aquatinted by J. Bluck and Joseph Stadler. Condition some age staining from the old wooden backboard framed at present £68

** Oxford also on Pages 1 | | 2

Home

Site Index

Architectural & Topographical

Architectural & Classical Architecture

Ackermann Aquatints

Antiquities of Westminster. . .

George Cuitt .

William Daniell

Classical Antiquity

John Sell Cotman..Lithographs

Fielding ..Lake District. .

William Green of Ambleside.

Johannes Kip. . .Brittania Illustrata,

Oxonia Illustrata./David Loggan

Oxford..Almanack.

Oxonia Depicta./Williams

Piranesi. ...Architectural

London Stowe's Survey

Wilkinson/Select Views .Lake District

Vue d'Optique. .

W . P. Sherlock . . Soft Ground Etchings.

William Pyne Trades/Costumes

Humour

Sir Henry Alken..+ Sports

W H Bunbury

Dighton.

Gillray ..Cartoons

William Hogarth .

Humerous.Political.... pre 1830

Humerous.Political....... post 1830

Scientific

Caldani /Icones Anatomicae /

Encyclopedie . .Scientific.

Art

.Francesco Bartolozzi.. .

Etchings.signed in pencil

Etchings. signed in plate only

Etchings.non uk subjects

Etchings .Societe des aqua-Fortistes. .

Engravings...larger plate

George Morland.

J.M.W.Turner..

Portraits

Watercolours

.Colour Woodcuts . . mainly Deco

Modern

William Nicholson Woodcuts

Wood engravings. . mainly Deco

Lorenzo Bardi - Florence

World etc

Non Uk/Ethnographic.Arab World

Non Uk/Asia

Non Uk/Ethnographic.Africa

Non Uk/Ethnographic.Pacific

Non Uk/ Americas

Non Uk/Ethnographic.Russia

Non Uk/Ethnographic.Europe

Sonnerat . .Indian watercolours

Woodblock Prints.Oriental

Extra's . . Specials Odds

Arts & Crafts Embroidery

Prints,... by Subject

Animals

Birds. engravings

Birds..Cage & Aviary

Birds.Morris Actic Tern - Gull-billed Tern

Birds.Morris Hooded Crow - Ptarmigan

Birds. Morris . Razorbill - Yellow Shanks

Botanical

Dogs .

Fish

Fish prints /Jonathan Couch

Horses

Miscellaneous

Pre1815 Military

Post 1815 Military

Navy

Pigeons

Poultry

Sporting

Joseph Strutt; Dress of England

Scientific Illustrations

Transport

About Us

Prints,... by Illustrator

Arthur Rackham

Randolph Caldecott

Childrens Illustrators

Restoration Specailists

. . .

 

 

 

Directions ......A the top of the hill

( being Wiltshire the main town is the high numbers. and downhill)...We have a one hour free parking slot outside the door and deregulated parking a few yards further

2-3 High Street

Tisbury, WILTSHIRE

SP3 6PS.

Opening times:

Monday,
Friday,
Saturday
or by arrangement

email us at ......Heatons.
01747 873025 (shop days only)
01747 870059(Fax)
01747 870048 evenings other days