Leinster House looks positively serene in this 1791 view by James Malton. It is part of an original coloured copy of a book of plates – colourfully described by the auctioneers as Ireland’s greatest plate book – which comes up at Fonsie Mealy’s rare book sale at the Tara Towers Hotel, Dublin on December 5.
Malton, who had been employed as a draughtsman by James Gandon during the building of the Custom House – he was dismissed for breaches of confidence and other irregularities – completed a series of drawings of Dublin buildings from which the famous set of views was engraved.
His work offers what is undoubtedly the most important pictorial record of Dublin life in the late 18th century. The book, estimated at 7,000-9,000, is part of a sale of rare books, manuscripts, maps and fine wines.
UPDATE: THIS MADE 8,500 AT HAMMER