Grey Friar’s Church. Burnt Down 1845.

This original antique hand coloured steel engraving depicts Grey Friar’s Church, Edinburgh — one of the most celebrated and historically significant churches in all of Scotland — as it appeared before it was gutted by fire in 1845, just three years before this publication.

Drawn by Sir Daniel Wilson and engraved by T. Steuart for his landmark work Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time, published in 1848, this print captures the church at a profoundly important moment in its history.

Greyfriars Kirk is one of the most storied churches in Scotland: it was here in 1638 that the National Covenant was signed — one of the most dramatic acts of religious and political defiance in Scottish history — and the churchyard surrounding it is one of the most historically rich burial grounds in the country, the resting place of some of Scotland’s greatest figures and the site of the notorious Covenanters’ Prison.

The fire of 1845 caused severe damage to the building, and Wilson’s print therefore preserves its appearance at precisely the moment before that catastrophe.

What makes this print exceptionally rare and desirable is its beautiful original hand colouring — the vast majority of prints from this series were issued in black and white, and hand coloured examples are considerably scarcer and more sought after by collectors. The colouring brings the church, its surroundings, and the sky to vivid life, creating a richly atmospheric image of one of Edinburgh’s most beloved landmarks.

The thin paper of this print has separated from its original thicker backing sheet, though both elements remain present.

Subscript: Lower Left: D. Wilson. Lower Right: T. Steuart. Lower Center: Grey Friar’s Church. Burnt Down 1845.

Author: Sir Daniel Wilson, F. R. S. S. A. (1816–1892)

Publication: Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time. By Daniel Wilson, F. S. S. A. Acting Secretary to the Society of the Antiquaries of Scotland.

Volume: 2

Publisher: Hugh Paton / Simpkin, Marshall, & Co.

Place of Publication: Adam Square, Edinburgh / London

Date: 1848

Artist: Sir Daniel Wilson, F. R. S. S. A. (1816–1892)

Engraver: T. Steuart

Page Number: Between pages 190–191

Paper Dimensions: 9 ⅞ x 12 ¼ inches

Medium: Steel Engraving

Language: English

Coloured: Hand coloured

Condition: The print is in great condition with some minor wear around the edges, as can be seen. The print is on a thin paper which was originally adhered to a thicker paper for publication; however, the adhesive is no longer holding and the two sheets have separated.

Reference: Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time, HathiTrust Digital Library