Not currently on display at the V&A

Set design by John Henderson Grieve for Zembuca

Set Design
1815 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Set design by John Henderson Grieve for Isaac Pocock's play Zembuca, Covent Garden, 1815.

The Grieves were a family of scene painters who worked for many London theatres during the 19th century. John Henderson Grieve (1770-1845) was principally associated with Covent Garden. His sons Thomas (1799-1882) and William (1800-1844) started at Covent Garden but went on to work for other managements. Thomas was later assisted by his son Thomas Walford (1841-1899). Together they developed the art of scene painting, evolving from the romantic to the realistic.

Zembuca; or, the Net-Maker and his Wife by Isaac Pocock was described on the playbill as a 'New Grand Melo-Dramatick Romance'. It opened at Covent Garden on Monday, 27 March 1815, the day after Easter. John Henderson Grieve designed three of the 12 scenes, the others were the work of M.J. Hollogan, Samuel Whitmore and Charles Pugh. This is Grieve's design for 'Castle Walls and Garden'. His other scenes were 'The Water-Gate of the Castle' and 'The Fortress and Draw-bridge'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSet design by John Henderson Grieve for Zembuca (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Wash and pencil on paper, laid down on card
Brief description
Set design by John Henderson Grieve for Isaac Pocock's play Zembuca, Covent Garden, 1815
Physical description
Set design for Zembuca, showing the angle of a courtyard with battlemented walls and a flight of stairs leading up to a walkway below the battlements. A palm tree, right, and a dome and minarets beyond the walls. Mounted on card.
Dimensions
  • Design height: 13.3cm
  • Design width: 19cm
  • Mount height: 21cm (measured at widest point)
  • Mount width: 30.2cm (measured at widest point)
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Painted for Easter 1815 / Theatre Royal C.G. / John Grieve' (Inscribed in pencil, lower right hand corner)
  • Transliteration
Credit line
Given by John Walford Grieve
Object history
This design is one of a collection of theatre designs by the Grieve family, given to the museum by John Walford Grieve (1886-1981), the son of Thomas Walford Grieve.
Summary
Set design by John Henderson Grieve for Isaac Pocock's play Zembuca, Covent Garden, 1815.

The Grieves were a family of scene painters who worked for many London theatres during the 19th century. John Henderson Grieve (1770-1845) was principally associated with Covent Garden. His sons Thomas (1799-1882) and William (1800-1844) started at Covent Garden but went on to work for other managements. Thomas was later assisted by his son Thomas Walford (1841-1899). Together they developed the art of scene painting, evolving from the romantic to the realistic.

Zembuca; or, the Net-Maker and his Wife by Isaac Pocock was described on the playbill as a 'New Grand Melo-Dramatick Romance'. It opened at Covent Garden on Monday, 27 March 1815, the day after Easter. John Henderson Grieve designed three of the 12 scenes, the others were the work of M.J. Hollogan, Samuel Whitmore and Charles Pugh. This is Grieve's design for 'Castle Walls and Garden'. His other scenes were 'The Water-Gate of the Castle' and 'The Fortress and Draw-bridge'.
Collection
Accession number
S.1014-1984

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 18, 2015
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest