1871 Antique Victorian Watercolor Painting - Clifford\'s Tower, York, England
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1871 Antique Victorian Watercolor Painting - Clifford\'s Tower, York, England:
$49.99
This sale is for a wonderful original 1871 Victorian era watercolor in a great antique frame. There is a pencil inscription in the lower left corner: \"Clifford\'s Tower - York Castle - 1871\". There are initials, no doubt of the artist, \"BT\" on the lower right side. The watercolor is in very good condition and measures about 6.5 by 9.5 inches without the frame and 9 by 12 inches with the antique ca 1870 wood frame. The watercolor is under glass. Buyer pays shipping. Here is some information about the history of Clifford\'s Tower, York Castle and the Normans who came to the area a thousand years ago:
Much of York\'s layout is the result of Roman and Vikingconstruction but one iconic feature is distinctly Norman.The originalmound of Clifford\'s Tower,with a timber structure at the top, was constructed by William the Conqueror in 1068 as a statement of his power over the region. This building stood for just over a century before being burnt down in one of York’s bloodiest and tragic moments, when, in 1190, 150 Jewswerekilledon the site.
Between 1190 and 1194, it was repaired at great expense, and the mound was raised to its present height. The second timber structure was destroyed (this time by a gale) in 1245.Under pressure from his wars with the Scots, Henry IIIordered the tower to be rebuilt and strengthened, this time in stone. Master Simon of Northampton and Master Henry of Reynes, the senior carpenter and stonemason respectively in Windsor Castle, were sent up to York to consult on the new design of the castle.
The result was atower some 50ft (15m) high and 200 ft (61m) in diameter. Its design is \'quatrefoil\', with four overlapping circles, resembling a four leafed clover. This design pattern was unique in England and has led scholars to compare the tower with one built at about the same time, thirty miles south of Paris, the Chateau d’Etampes.
After being decimated by fire, wind, and even water (the castle sunk into the moat causing the walls to crack in the 1350s) the next challenge came from a very unlikely source - the castle’s jailer, Robert Redhead. In 1596 he began demolishing the tower and selling the stone as building material \'for his own profit\'. He was only stopped after prolonged protests by the city council.
The tower\'s last military role began with the CivilWar when, in 1642,it was again occupied by troops -first Royalists, then Parliamentarians. A garrison of soldiers stayed in the tower until it was burnt out in a fire in 1684.
1871 Antique Victorian Watercolor Painting - Clifford\'s Tower, York, England:
$49.99