Tholsel, Dublin
published June 1793
Medium
Hand-colored aquatint in black on ivory wove paper
Dimensions
Image: 26.5 × 37.7 cm (10 7/16 × 14 7/8 in.); Plate: 31.5 × 42.5 cm (12 7/16 × 16 3/4 in.); Sheet: 42 × 53.5 cm (16 9/16 × 21 1/8 in.)
Classification
aquatint
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
127955
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Step into the bustling streets of late 18th-century Dublin James Malton's *Tholsel, Dublin*, a hand-colored aquatint published in June 1793. This exquisite print captures the Tholsel, Dublin's historic public assembly hall and guildhall, a neoclassical gem that served as the city's exchange for trade and civic gatherings until its demolition in the 19th century. Malton, Irish architect and artist renowned for his detailed topographic views, documented the city's architecture during a period of Georgian prosperity and urban transformation. The artwork's artistic significance lies in its preservation of a lost landmark, offering a vivid snapshot of Dublin's social and economic life. As part of Malton's series *A Picturesque and Descriptive View of the City of Dublin*, it exemplifies the Romantic interest in picturesque urban scenes, blending architectural precision with atmospheric depth. Crafted as a hand-colored aquatint on ivory wove paper, the medium shines here: aquatint's etched resin technique produces soft, painterly tones ideal for capturing light on stone facades and lively street scenes. Measuring 26.5 × 37.7 cm, this print from the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings collection invites you to appreciate the fusion of artistry and history. (198 words)