Grimsthrop in County of Lincoln the Seat of the R.t Hon.ble Rob.t Earl of Lindsey

Dateca. 1707

Engraver Johannes (Jan) Kip (1653 - 1722)

After work by Leonard Knyff (1650 - 1722)

OriginEngland, London

MediumEtching with line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 23 × 27 1/4in. (58.4 × 69.2cm) Other (Plate): 14 × 18 1/2in. (35.6 × 47cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1967-350

DescriptionTitle in upper right corner: "Grimsthorp in the County of Lincoln the Seat of the R.t Hon.ble Rob.t Earl of Lindsey, Lord Great/ Chamberlain of England, Baron of Willoughby Beck of Eresby, Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum/ of the abovesaid County; Hereditary Lord Warden of Waltham Forrest; and One of the Lords or Her Majestys most Hon.ble Privy Councill & c."
Lower margin reads: "L. Knyff De./ I Kip Sculp 20"
Label TextThis print depicts Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, which at the time it was originally published, was the country house of Robert Bertie, the 16th Baron Willoughby de Eresby, Marquess of Lindsey (1660-1723). In 1715, he was granted the title of 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven. In celebration, he hired Sir John Vanbrugh (to see a portrait print of him see 1979-73) to design a new baroque front to the house. In 1771, his grandson the 3rd Duke of Ancaster hired the famous landscape designer Lancelot "Capability" Brown to design the grounds.

Johannes (Jan) Kip was a Dutch draftsmen, engraver, publisher, and printseller who is most famous for his birds-eye topographical views of English country estates and landscapes. This print was ofirignally published in volume one of "Britania Illustrata" which was finished in 1707 and published in 1708, however Kip republished these plates in many other editions until his death in 1721. He collaborated with the Dutch artist Leonard Knyff (1650-1721) who produced many of the original designs for the works, though Kip also designed and engraved many of the plates.