'A General View of the City of Madrid the Capital of Kingdom of Spain' This piece is from the famous mezzotint engraver and publisher Robert Laurie (17551836) and map, chart and print seller James Whittle (1757-1818). Together in 1794 they created Laurie and Whittle at 53 Fleet Street, London, specialising in engraving and prints. It is copper engraving with hand colouring, printed on eighteenth century laid paper. The piece was framed in 1949 by the Artistic Frame Makers Frost & Reed. This sweeping panoramic view of Madrid is taken from the opposite banks of the Manzanares River. Dominating the skyline to the left is the historic fortress, the Royal Alcazar, built on the site of the Royal Palace that replaced it. Market gardens occupy the view over to the right behind which we can see an impressive array of church towers, steeples and domes. On the riverbank, admiring the view, are a well-dressed crowd of sightseers, some of whom are taking trips on the river in pleasure boats.