This engraving is a wonderful example showing the estate and Elizabethan mansion of John Berkeley, Esq. The large village of Stoke Gifford is the country seat of South Gloucestershire, south of Bradley Stoke in the northern suburbs of Bristol. This is a well rendered and pleasing birds-eye view of the hilltop estate and serves as a document of the landscape design and architecture of the time. The estate was built on one of the most imposing sites in the area with the family's mansion commanding a magnificent view over Bristol. The mansion is now the Stoke Park Hospital. Kip's views in Britannia Illustrata show not only the buildings themselves, but the entire estates, including orchards, gardens, courtyards and many other details. The engravings are meticulously crafted, richly illustrated, and known for their accuracy. The Britannia Illustrata is considered one of the most important English topographical publications of the 18th century. Johannes Kip (1653-1722) was a draughtsman and engraver, who first worked in his native Amsterdam before moving to London at the end of the seventeenth century.

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Condition: A

Beautiful impression with fine, old color. On fine hand laid paper with very wide margins. A little scattered, light foxing mostly in margins.