‘Friar Bacon’s study’ (left), hexagonal tower at southern end of Folly Bridge and overlooking the River Thames in the city of Oxford, England. Friar Bacon was Roger Bacon (c. 1220 - c. 1292), a Franciscan philosopher and scientist who carried out observations with lenses and mirrors and described spectacles (eye glasses). Copperplate engraving by David Lerpiniere (c. 1745 - 1785), from a drawing by Francis Grose (1731 - 1791), which was published in Grose’s ‘Antiquities of England and Wales’ in 1785.
‘Friar Bacon’s Study’, the medieval hexagonal gate tower in which Franciscan philosopher and scientist, Roger Bacon (c. 1220 - c. 1292), used to live and work. Copperplate engraving first published in ‘The Antiquities of England and Wales’ by Francis Grose (1731 - 1791). Engraved by David Lerpiniere (c. 1745 - 1785), from a drawing by Francis Grose, ‘The Antiquities’ was published in London by Samuel Hooper 1772 - 1787. This engraving has the inscription ‘Published 7 March 1785 by S. Hooper’. Roger Bacon was a major medieval proponent of experimental science who studied mathematics, astronomy, optics and languages. He carried out observations with lenses and mirrors, described spectacles (eye glasses) and elucidated the principles of reflection, refraction and spherical aberration. In the 1200s, an imposing hexagonal defensive tower was constructed at the southern end of Folly Bridge, a bridge over the River Thames. Complete with portcullis, drawbridge and heavy gates, the tower was designed to bar entry to the city of Oxford from the south. Shortly after its construction, the tower was said to have been used by Roger Bacon as an astronomical observatory and thereafter was known as ‘Friar Bacon’s Study’. The tower was demolished in 1779 in order to widen Folly Bridge to accommodate traffic. Francis Grose was an English antiquary and draughtsman. He travelled around the country collecting material with the aim of making the past more intelligible and accessible to non-specialists. Grose’s ‘Antiquities’ was a vast, abundantly illustrated project and its full title was: ‘The Antiquities of England and Wales; Being a Collection of Views of the Most remarkable Ruins and antient (sic) Buildings, Accurately drawn on the spot. To each view is added An Historical Account of its Situation, when & by whom built, with every interesting Circumstance relating thereto. Collected from the best authorities.’
Size: 7000px × 4666px
Location: Friar Bacon's Study, Folly Bridge, Oxford, England, UK
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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