Not currently on display at the V&A

Man in a Red Hat Smoking a Pipe

Oil Painting
ca. 1800-ca. 1830 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This oil painting on board was made for the interior of a dolls' house known as the May Foster House from the Museum of Childhood's collection. It shows a man in peasant's clothing sitting at a table with his elbows leaning on a round table facing the right. He is smoking a pipe and has a jug by his side. He is probably at a public house. His clothes are simple, a white shirt with reddish trousers and hat and a waistcoat. The execution of the painting is skillful with tiny brushstrokes and suggests it was undertaken by a professional artist, although we do not know who this was as the pianting is not signed. This painting is very similar in style and content to another one from the same dolls' house.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMan in a Red Hat Smoking a Pipe
Materials and techniques
Oil on board
Brief description
man leaning on a table smoking a pipe, red hat, facing right; oil on board, unframed. Foster Dolls' House, probably English, 1800-30
Physical description
This small painting made for a dolls' house interior is of a man in peasant's dress. He is facing to the right with both elbows leaning on a small round table. He is smoking a pipe and has a jug next to him on the table. The painting is of a dark palate and the setting could be the interior of a public house. The panting is skillfully executed and was probably done by a professional artist rather than an amateur, but would not have been completed as a part of the dolls' house as a whole.
Dimensions
  • Board height: 5.8cm
  • Board width: 5cm
The board is unmounted and the painting goes to the edges of the board.
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by Miss Georges Patry
Object history
This painting is a part of a dolls' house known as May Foster's House made in England in about 1800. The exact origin of the painting is not clear as it probably was not produced specifically for the house. The house was produced between 1800-1830.
Production
Miniature painting from a dolls' house. Maker and other information unknown, so dates have been guessed to be near that of the house they are in.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This oil painting on board was made for the interior of a dolls' house known as the May Foster House from the Museum of Childhood's collection. It shows a man in peasant's clothing sitting at a table with his elbows leaning on a round table facing the right. He is smoking a pipe and has a jug by his side. He is probably at a public house. His clothes are simple, a white shirt with reddish trousers and hat and a waistcoat. The execution of the painting is skillful with tiny brushstrokes and suggests it was undertaken by a professional artist, although we do not know who this was as the pianting is not signed. This painting is very similar in style and content to another one from the same dolls' house.
Associated object
W.49-1925 (Part)
Collection
Accession number
W.49:2-1925

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Record createdMay 29, 2007
Record URL
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