Presentation of the Magna Carta A. D. 1215
Collection: Houston Public Library (HPL)
September 1, 1855
Engraving on Paper
Location:
Houston Public Library Central Branch Art Vault
500 McKinney St
Houston, TX 77002
About the Artwork:
Presentation of the Magna Carta A. D. 1215 (1855)
by John George Murray
Engraving is when an image is cut, chiseled, or stippled into a hard, flat surface, such as copper, to then be covered with ink and cleaned, each mark keeping the ink, and finally placed on paper; special tools, such as a burin and scraper, allowed for complex tones. John George Murray, a British engraver who practiced between 1821-1856, first completed this piece in 1833 based on an oil painting completed between 1816-1817 by English artist Arthur William Devis titled: “Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, shewing to the Barons of England, in the Abbey of St Edmund at Bury, the Charter of Liberties that had been granted by King Henry I, and on which the Great Charter of King John was subsequently founded.” As the original title indicates, the Charter of Liberties is being presented, which sought to bind the King of England to certain laws regarding the treatment of nobles, church officials, and individuals. Historians consider this document to be important for English legal history and a precedent for the Magna Carta, which in turn inspired the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. Though this engraving is in black and white, causing the loss of the colors in the painting like each baron’s coat of arms, different details are more visible, such as the friars at the top quietly witnessing history and the tapestry on the pillar on the far right.
Presentación de la Carta Magna 1215 d. C. (1855)
por John George Murray
Presentation of the Magna Carta A. D. 1215 (1855)
by John George Murray
Engraving is when an image is cut, chiseled, or stippled into a hard, flat surface, such as copper, to then be covered with ink and cleaned, each mark keeping the ink, and finally placed on paper; special tools, such as a burin and scraper, allowed for complex tones. John George Murray, a British engraver who practiced between 1821-1856, first completed this piece in 1833 based on an oil painting completed between 1816-1817 by English artist Arthur William Devis titled: “Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, shewing to the Barons of England, in the Abbey of St Edmund at Bury, the Charter of Liberties that had been granted by King Henry I, and on which the Great Charter of King John was subsequently founded.” As the original title indicates, the Charter of Liberties is being presented, which sought to bind the King of England to certain laws regarding the treatment of nobles, church officials, and individuals. Historians consider this document to be important for English legal history and a precedent for the Magna Carta, which in turn inspired the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. Though this engraving is in black and white, causing the loss of the colors in the painting like each baron’s coat of arms, different details are more visible, such as the friars at the top quietly witnessing history and the tapestry on the pillar on the far right.
Presentación de la Carta Magna 1215 d. C. (1855)
por John George Murray
El grabado es cuando una imagen es cortado, cincelado, o punteado sobre una superficie dura y plana, como el cobre, para luego cubrirla con tinta y limpiado, cada marca conservando la tinta, y finalmente colocado sobre papel; herramientas especiales, como un buril y un raspador, hizo posible para obtener tonos complejos. John George Murray, un grabador británico que trabajo entre 1821 y 1856, completó esta obra por primera vez en 1833 basándose en una pintura al óleo realizada entre 1816 y 1817 por el artista inglés Arthur William Devis titulada: “Stephen Langton, arzobispo de Canterbury, mostrando a los barones de Inglaterra, en la Abadía de San Edmundo en Bury, la Carta de Libertades que había sido otorgada por el rey Enrique I, y sobre la cual se fundó posteriormente la Gran Carta del rey Juan.” Como indica el título original, se presenta la Carta de las Libertades, que trato de obligar al Rey de Inglaterra a ciertas leyes sobre el tratamiento de los nobles, los funcionarios eclesiásticos, y los individuos. Los historiadores consideran que este documento es importante para la historia jurídica inglesa y un precedente para la Carta Magna, que a su vez inspiró la Constitución y la Declaración de Derechos de los Estados Unidos. Aunque este grabado es en blanco y negro, lo que provoca la pérdida de los colores de la pintura como el escudo de armas de cada barón, son más visibles diferentes detalles, como los frailes en la parte superior viendo silenciosamente a la historia y el tapiz en el pilar del extremo derecho.