Picturing Places

Discover the role and history of topographical views, maps and texts through over 800 examples from the British Library’s collections and beyond, with fresh research in over 120 articles and films from an academic conference hosted by the British Library and Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art.

Articles

The prospects of the two most remarkable towns in the north of England for the clothing trade, viz. Leeds, As it appears from Holbeck Road, and Wakefield, As it appears from London Road, by William Lodge.

Local historians in the 18th century

Writing local histories was a favourite hobby of many in the 18th century who had spare time, money, and a desire to find out more about their towns and country. Rosemary Sweet examines some of the motivations of local historians and the usefulness of their work for historians today.

PANORAMIC VIEW of that part of Ratisbon west of the cathedral, painted in water-colours by G. Scharf, sen.; 1845. Paper; 6 ft. 1/2 in. X 1 ft.

The spectacle of the panorama

What was a panorama? Markman Ellis explores the evolution of this immersive form of topographical art.

Maps, guidebooks and topographical prints of London by the Bowles family

In the 18th century, a whole range of works catered to new arrivals in London. Alison O’Byrne explores how these works – including guidebooks, pocket maps, and views of the city – offered different kinds of topographical information to enable visitors to find their way through the streets of the capital.

Aquatint showing the Trelawny Parish Maroons ambushing British troops on the Dromilly Estate, Jamaica

Slavery, freedom and the Jamaican landscape

Jamaican Maroons fought two major wars against the British during the 18th century. With reference to maps and views in the King's Topographical Collection, Miles Ogborn investigates these communities of escaped slaves and their attempts to retain their freedom in a landscape of slavery.