Sir George Cornewall Appraisal

Moccas Court in Herefordshire the Seat of Sir George Cornewall

This is an original hand-colored copperplate engraving from the late 18th century, specifically dating to circa 1787. The artwork depicts Moccas Court in Herefordshire, a prominent country house, situated along the River Wye. The landscape composition includes lush rolling hills, meticulously rendered foliage in shades of forest green and purple-brown, and a peaceful river with a small boat. The engraving exhibits fine line work characteristic of the Georgian period. It is housed in an ornate, high-quality gilt wood frame featuring a repeating acanthus leaf and beaded motif. The framing includes a professional multi-layered French mat with hand-drawn ink lines (wash-line matting) in light blue and cream tones. Notable markings include the title at the bottom center, ‘Thomas Day inv.’ on the bottom left, and ‘W. Angus sculp.’ on the bottom right, identifying William Angus as the engraver. The condition appears excellent with no visible foxing, staining, or tears to the paper, though light reflections on the glass indicate it is currently under standard glazing. The vibrant hand-coloring remains well-preserved without significant fading.