ART lovers are preparing to bid for this striking portrait of a city landmark.

The 19th century depiction of part of Cathedral Close is expected to fetch around £900 when it comes up for auction.

The painting by John Gendall shows St Martin's Church and Mol's Coffee House in the northern corner of the historic close.

Mol's Coffee House, which was built in of 1596, was said to have been frequented by Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh.

It survived the Second World War German bombing and still stands today, as does part of the original chapel next to it.

It was said to be named after the proprietor, Thomas Mol — another explanation is that the name comes from the 18th century growth of coffee houses as male meeting places.

Much like the pubs of today, each one had its own character and clientele.

The coffee-house phenomenon was relatively short-lived and by the mid-19th century only the name remained.

The building was occupied by the Exeter artist Mr Gendall in the 19th century.

Mr Gendall, who was born in 1789 and died in 1865, sketched this image of his home and its immediate surroundings using pencil and gouache.

He traded there for 30 years, running a framing, carving and gilding business, selling prints and paintings, initially from one room.

Many of the ancient and mediaeval buildings of Exeter that were demolished between 1810 and 1865 would have gone unrecorded but for him.

Born on Exe Island, between Exe Bridges and Exeter Quay, Mr Gendall never tired of recording the city's buildings and streets. He often specialised in drawing those buildings that were marked for destruction.

Fragments of the original building on the site, consecrated in 1065, survive in the present largely 15th century structure.

The work is going under the hammer at a two-day sale being held on Thursday, March 25, and Friday, March 26.

The sale is being held by Mellors & Kirk, fine art auctioneers of The Auction House, Nottingham.

An estimate for the value of the work is put by the auctioneers at between £700 and £900.