Wenceslas Hollar (1607-1677) was a Bohemian engraver and
water-colourist, born in Prague. He trained in the workshop of Merian in Frankfurt, and
became one of the foremost engravers of topographical views in the 17th century. In 1636,
while working in Cologne, he met the English connoisseur, the Earl of Arundel, who took
him on a tour of Europe to make views for his private collections. On account of his
English connections, Hollar finally settled in London, and during the Civil War he fought
on the Royalist side. His views of the city of London form an invaluable record of its
appearance before the Great Fire of 1666. He was very prolific and engraved a wide range
of subjects aparts from views and landscapes.
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