Interior of Library, Lambeth Palace

This watercolour represents the Library at Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Library was formerly the Great Hall and was redesigned by Edward Blore in 1833.The drawing shows elaborately carved book shelves designed by Blore and placed at right angles to the west and east sides of the Hall to form bays. The library had its origin in the collection of books left to his successors by Archbishop Bancroft in 1610.The works were part of a larger scheme of renovation works carried out by Blore at theinstigation of Archbishop William Howley (1828-48).

The artist Henry William Burgess (active 1809-39) was a landscape painter based in London. He came from a family of British artists, and his own son John Bagnold (1829-1897) also became a painter.

He also served as landscape painter to William IV and before that appointment was retained by several nobleman to draw their estates.
This is one of twelve drawings in an album, representing such a commission for the Archbishop of Canterbury.