Four Birds-eye views of the London Docks.

A fine collection of views of the London docks by William Daniell, published between 1802 and 1808 at £2 12s 6d each. The views show the new docks on the Thames, built from 1800, as part of a scheme to completely overhaul and modernise shipping in London. The docks were in urgent need of upgrading as a result of the vast increase in trade, both domestic and foreign, passing through London.

'This series of views is almost unique in the history of aquatint. The stiff, square buildings, with their compromising lines, might well be considered unrewarding to any artist, but William appears to have given of his best, and has managed in a miraculous way to combine the angularities of the buildings and the perpendicular forests of masts with teh austere beauty of low-lying mudbanks, swept by shadows and given character by subtle lighting. Perhaps the most attractive is the view the East India Dock' (Sutton).

The views comprise An elevated view of the New Docks and Warehouses ... on the Isle of Dogs ... 1802 (Sutton 17, 1)
Brunswick Dock on the Thames at Blackwall ... 1805. (Sutton 17, 3)
A View of the London Dock... 1808. (Sutton 17, 4)
A View of the East India Docks 1805. (Sutton 17, 5).