Franciscan Convent, Athens by Stanfield 1833

Franciscan Convent, Athens drawn by C. Stanfield after a sketch by W. Page, engraved by E. Finden,1833.

The Franciscan convent was Lord Byron's (1788-1824) place of residence while he was in Athens, during his first trip abroad. From the convent Byron had a view of the eastern end of the Acropolis, as well as the Arch of Hadrian and the Temple of Jupiter Olympius. This image was from Finden's Landscape and Portrait Illustrations to the Life and Works of Lord Byron. It was hand-colored at a later date. 

Clarkson Stanfield (1793-1867) was an English painter best remembered for his maritime scenes. He served briefly in the Navy from 1808-14, and made a voyage to China in 1815, returning with a number of sketches. Stanfield worked as a scene painter from 1816-34, first for the Royalty Theatre, and then for the CoburgThreatre and the Drury Lane Theatre. He worked on several panorama projects with artist David Roberts (1796-1864) during the twenties and thirties. Stanfield was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy until his death and was made a full member in 1835. In addition to his paintings he published a number of lithographic views as well as illustrations for literary works, by prominent authors and poets. 

Edward Finden (1791-1857) was an English engraver. He worked in conjunction with his brother William Finden (1787-1852), and they shared each others successes and failures. Edward did produce some works independently and he often contributed to annuals and sentimental works then in vogue. Finden's book was published by the John Murray publishing house, which was founded in 1768. It went on to become one of the most influential publishers in Britain, best known for the many authors it published during its long history. Run by the Murray family until its take over in 2002, it published such writers as Jane Austen, Lord Byron, Sir Walter Scott, and Charles Darwin.