Sky sketches from September 1883 to September 1886
Sky sketches from September 1883 to September 1886, illustrating optical phenomena attributed to the eruption at Krakatoa, in the Java Straits, August 27th, 1883 / by William Ascroft. - (London, 1883-1886). 533 drawings; pastel, coloured, with charcoal and chalk white, on buff brown or grey Rowney paper; various sizes, 16x28cm or smaller, arranged grouped in 72 conservation mounts. Collection selected, inscribed and arranged by the artist William Ascroft (1832-1914) for exhibition at South Kensington Museum 1888. Title from his published catalogue, printed by Eyre and Spottiswoode for the South Kensington Museum 1888. Observations from his home in Chelsea London, 1883 Sept. 8 - 1886 Sept. 13; "left unfinished, and with but few exceptions were done directly from nature". Sequences grouped, in given times, including: afterglows; bishop's ring; eclipse of Moon, 1884 Oct. 4; noctilucent clouds; first significant afterglow, 1883 Nov. 9. Selections exhibited, Royal Society Conversazione, 1884-1886; a further six works not in this collection were used as frontispieces for the Royal Society's report on Krakatoa 1888 (see inv. 1982-686).