Tower at Pembroke Castle

c. 1770/1782

John Clerk, of Eldin

Associated Names
John Clerk, of Eldin

Artist, Scottish, 1728 - 1812

The image shows a landscape with a large, round tower in the center. In the distance, there are hills, a small church with a spire, and figures in the foreground. Detailed lines depict structures and vegetation, creating texture. The sky has swirling patterns. The color palette is monochromatic with shades of gray. Remnants of other structures are visible on the right.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Campbell Fine Art, London); Donald Vogler, Portland, OR; gift to NGA, 2017.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1925

  • Lumsden, E.S. "The etchings of John Clerk of Eldin." Print Collector's Quarterly 12 (1925): no. 34

2012

  • Bertram, Geoffrey. The Etchings of John Clerk of Eldin. Taunton, 2012: no. 50

Inscriptions

on verso of mount in pen and ink: The story of Britain's disgrace / Thought nothing so sure / His pen to secure / As to give the Historien a Place / But art 'tis in vain / 'Tis the curse of his reign / That his projects should never succeed / Though he wrote not a line / Great Britain's decline / In the Author's example we read / His book well describes / How corruption and bribes / O'er threw the great Empire of Rome / and his writing dec... [This is a variation on a poem on Edward Gibbon that seems to have first appeared in The Gentleman's Magazine in 1781.]

Wikidata ID

Q77259204

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