Hamilton's Close, Grassmarket

Category

Library Item

Item no

19117

Title

Hamilton's Close, Grassmarket

Artist / maker

Channing, William

Date

1850

Size

25.2 x 17.5 cm

Type

Pencil work; Wash drawing

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Hamilton's Close -The Grassmarket is a central area situated below Edinburgh Castle. A weekly market was held there from 1477 until 1911. The area continues to be a popular area for socialising. The Grassmarket was also the site of many public executions.

William Channing's drawings and paintings from the bound volume of his 'Sketches in Edinburgh', give an artist's impression of tenement life in the mid 19th century. His drawings are glimpses into the past down the narrow Closes and alleyways of the Old Town. We see higgledy-piggledy houses and tenements towering skywards, laundry hanging from windows across the walkways and local characters talking in the streets.

Channing's delightful sketches are particularly valued for their representation of the architectural elements and details of buildings and closes now much changed or long since disappeared.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Banisters

Architecture > Architectural features > Chimneys

Architecture > Architectural features > Roofs

Architecture > Architectural features > Stairways

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

Furnishings > Equipment > Washing lines

Places > Edinburgh areas > Grassmarket

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Closes

Transport > Infrastructure > Cobbled streets

Transport > Infrastructure > Street lights

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