Royal College of Art interior showing plaster casts of classical sculpture
Photograph
ca. mid 19th century (photographed)
ca. mid 19th century (photographed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Photographs and photographers were present from the very beginning of the V&A's history and the Museum has an extensive collection of images from the 1850s through to the present which documents the construction and development of the V&A and the South Kensington site.
Originally collected by the National Art Library as part of a programme to record works of art, architecture and design in the interest of public education, these topographic and architectural views were valued as records and as source material for students of architecture and design. As well as being crucial records of the history of the V&A, and an important element within the National Art Library's visual encyclopaedia, these photographs are also significant artefacts in the history of the art of photography.
Originally collected by the National Art Library as part of a programme to record works of art, architecture and design in the interest of public education, these topographic and architectural views were valued as records and as source material for students of architecture and design. As well as being crucial records of the history of the V&A, and an important element within the National Art Library's visual encyclopaedia, these photographs are also significant artefacts in the history of the art of photography.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Royal College of Art interior showing plaster casts of classical sculpture (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Albumen print |
| Brief description | Photograph by Cundall & Fleming, 'Royal College of Art interior showing plaster casts of classical sculpture', albumen print, ca. mid 19th century |
| Physical description | A mounted sepia coloured photographed showing casts of classical sculptures on pedestals. Chairs and drawing desks are arranged before the casts. A gas lamp fixture is visible suspended from the ceiling. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'London (South Kensington): Royal College of Art. / Interior' (ink, lower right mount) |
| Gallery label | Gallery 100 ‘A History of Photography’, 2014-2015, label text:
Unknown photographer
Plaster Casts of Classical Sculpture, Royal College of Art
About 1870
The Royal College Art was once housed in the South Kensington Museum. Drawing was the foundation of art and design practice. When towards the end of the course students were permitted to draw the human form, they mostly drew from plaster casts, rather than living models. Here, casts of sculptures, including Michelangelo’s David and the Venus de Milo appear to enact a dramatic performance.
Albumen print
Museum no. 4974-1910
(06 03 2014) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Places depicted | |
| Summary | Photographs and photographers were present from the very beginning of the V&A's history and the Museum has an extensive collection of images from the 1850s through to the present which documents the construction and development of the V&A and the South Kensington site. Originally collected by the National Art Library as part of a programme to record works of art, architecture and design in the interest of public education, these topographic and architectural views were valued as records and as source material for students of architecture and design. As well as being crucial records of the history of the V&A, and an important element within the National Art Library's visual encyclopaedia, these photographs are also significant artefacts in the history of the art of photography. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 4974-1910 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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