Artwork

High Street at the Manor House, Marylebone

High Street at the Manor House, Marylebone, by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm, ink, 1772
High Street at the Manor House, Marylebone, by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm, ink, 1772

High Street at the Manor House, Marylebone is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Samuel Hieronymus Grimm. It dates from 1772 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

High Street at the Manor House, Marylebone is a drawing created by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm in 1772. Executed in pen and black ink with gray wash over graphite on laid paper, this work captures a late 18th-century streetscape in Marylebone, London.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a serene urban scene, featuring a central bare tree, a simple wooden fence, a small pitched-roof house, and a distant church tower. Figures are shown near a wooden hut, conveying everyday life amidst the area’s development.

Technique & Style

Grimm employed loose, sketchy lines with ink and gray wash, imparting a sense of spontaneity, as if the scene was quickly recorded. This approach contrasts with his more polished work in oils and watercolours.

History & Provenance

While specific provenance details for this piece are not provided, it aligns with Grimm’s practice of documenting historical scenes, similar to his illustrations for Gilbert White’s *The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne*.

Context

Created during London’s urban expansion, the drawing offers a glimpse into Marylebone’s transformation in the late 18th century, highlighting the coexistence of natural elements with burgeoning urban infrastructure.

Legacy

As part of Grimm’s documentary oeuvre, *High Street at the Manor House, Marylebone* contributes to the visual record of 18th-century London, reflecting the artist’s role in capturing the era’s landscapes and daily life.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Samuel Hieronymus Grimm

Artist

Samuel Hieronymus Grimm

Samuel Hieronymus Grimm (18 January 1733 – 14 April 1794) was an 18th-century Swiss landscape artist who worked in oils (until 1764), watercolours, and pen and ink media.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.