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In the 19th century, lithography was the widespread technique for producing colour prints, mostly by the lithographic process. A lithographer had the task of transferring the artwork to the printing stone so that the texts and images could then be produced in series. The work required creativity and skill at the same time, something that Louis Haghe was taught in his childhood. Born in 1806 in Tournai, Belgium, the artist comes from a family of architects - both his father and grandfather were renowned architects. Instead of removing buildings, however, Haghe found great pleasure in lithography and began an apprenticeship in his home country.
In 1823, he moved to London and together with William Day founded the company Day & Haghe, which became one of the most famous lithographic printing houses in the early Victorian age. The two artists and entrepreneurs created and printed a wide range of motifs, from hunting scenes, architectural images, topographies and landscapes. As a speciality, they specialised in colour prints, which were successful throughout Europe, publishing magnificent works on Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Egypt and Nubia. Their work was so successful that in 1836 Day and Haghe were also placed in the service of the Queen of England.
In the middle of his creative period, Louis Haghe concentrated more and more on his own works in watercolours. His favourite motifs - entirely in keeping with his family of architects - were mainly exterior and interior scenes of buildings and structures in Europe. His works also received much recognition due to his distinct talent for playing with light and shadow and his extremely fine and detailed style and were exhibited in the "Victoria and Albert Museum" among others. Many of his works are partly so realistic and detailed that you have to look at them several times in order not to confuse them with photographs. The more impressive are Haughes artworks, considering that the Belgian was born with a deformation of his right hand. He never let this stop him, however, and towards the end of his creative period he also created a much-acclaimed series of drawings from Belgium and Germany, in which he drew in particular the interiors of places of worship such as the choir of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Sistine Chapel. He gained his inspiration above all during his extensive travels throughout Europe. Louis Haghe died in London in 1885.
In the 19th century, lithography was the widespread technique for producing colour prints, mostly by the lithographic process. A lithographer had the task of transferring the artwork to the printing stone so that the texts and images could then be produced in series. The work required creativity and skill at the same time, something that Louis Haghe was taught in his childhood. Born in 1806 in Tournai, Belgium, the artist comes from a family of architects - both his father and grandfather were renowned architects. Instead of removing buildings, however, Haghe found great pleasure in lithography and began an apprenticeship in his home country.
In 1823, he moved to London and together with William Day founded the company Day & Haghe, which became one of the most famous lithographic printing houses in the early Victorian age. The two artists and entrepreneurs created and printed a wide range of motifs, from hunting scenes, architectural images, topographies and landscapes. As a speciality, they specialised in colour prints, which were successful throughout Europe, publishing magnificent works on Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Egypt and Nubia. Their work was so successful that in 1836 Day and Haghe were also placed in the service of the Queen of England.
In the middle of his creative period, Louis Haghe concentrated more and more on his own works in watercolours. His favourite motifs - entirely in keeping with his family of architects - were mainly exterior and interior scenes of buildings and structures in Europe. His works also received much recognition due to his distinct talent for playing with light and shadow and his extremely fine and detailed style and were exhibited in the "Victoria and Albert Museum" among others. Many of his works are partly so realistic and detailed that you have to look at them several times in order not to confuse them with photographs. The more impressive are Haughes artworks, considering that the Belgian was born with a deformation of his right hand. He never let this stop him, however, and towards the end of his creative period he also created a much-acclaimed series of drawings from Belgium and Germany, in which he drew in particular the interiors of places of worship such as the choir of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Sistine Chapel. He gained his inspiration above all during his extensive travels throughout Europe. Louis Haghe died in London in 1885.