Special Collections
Book of the Month, June 2008
The Microcosm of
London, vol. 1
William Henry Pyne
London: R. Ackermann, 1808
[S.L.] IV [Ackermann – 1808] fol.
The Microcosm of London, published in three sumptuous volumes between 1808 and 1810, is very much a composite production. The leading name is that of the German emigrant publisher, Rudolph Ackermann (1764-1834). The text is by William Henry Pyne (1770-1843), while the aquatints are by Thomas Rowlandson (figures) and the Parisian-born artist and architectural draughtsman Auguste Charles Pugin (architectural details). The result was an acknowledged masterpiece which, together with his magazine The Repository of Arts, established Ackermann’s reputation as a publisher of the finest colour-plate books. Pugin, Rowlandson, and Combe all worked with Ackermann on other projects: indeed, collaboration with Ackermann was the turning-point in Pugin’s career, while Ackermann kept Rowlandson in almost continuous employment from 1798 onwards.
The idea for The Microcosm of London came from Pugin. The purposes, according to the introduction, were to make busy Londoners aware and appreciative of their city and to inform tourists: “Among the numerous inhabitants of this great city, there are some whose particular pursuits have so much engrossed their time and thoughts, that they know little more of the scenery which surrounds them than barely the names. Such a work as this may reasonably be expected to rouse their dormant curiosity, and induce them to notice and contemplate objects so worthy of their attention. Those to whom these scenes are familiar, it will remind of their various peculiarities, and this publication may possibly point out some which have hitherto escaped their observation. To such occasional visitors of the metropolis as wish to know what is most worthy of their attention and examination in this mighty capital of the British empire, it will afford information which cannot easily be estimated.”
This volume contains 32 chapters, arranged alphabetically, including such diverse places as the Royal Academy, Astley’s Amphitheatre, Christie’s auction room, the Bank of England, Bartholomew Fair, Bridewell, the British Museum, Carlton House, the Roman Catholic Chapel, Cold-Bath-Fields Prison, the market and theatre at Covent Garden, and the House of Commons. Each chapter sports a coloured plate to which the text refers, often with praise.
This is one of 19 items published by Ackermann collected by Sir Louis Sterling for the section of his library devoted to illustrated and extra-illustrated works. Seven of these are illustrated by Pugin and four contain contributions from Combe, who is also represented by seven works executed independently of Ackermann. The Microcosm of London is the only example Sterling owned of Ackermann-Rowlandson collaboration; that Rowlandson provided one of the attractions, however, is evident from 19 further items by him in the collection.
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