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View of a room at Christ Church, Oxford

Watercolour
ca. 1855 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This drawing carefully records the rooms of wealthy students in Canterbury Quadrangle at Christ Church, a college of Oxford University. It is one of a group of drawings. The furnishings epitomise the mid Victorian ideal of the comfortable living room or parlour. They include a fitted carpet, softly upholstered neo-Rococo chairs (with interior springs), a large centre table and a piano. But the plain walls with their floral wallpaper borders are not typical. The occupant (and decorator) must have been both tasteful and artistic. The borders, chair covers, curtains and carpet all match, and there is an array of fashionable watercolours hanging on the walls. At night the large table would have been the centre of activity. The two lamps at the side would have been placed on it.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleView of a room at Christ Church, Oxford (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour
Brief description
View of a room at Christ Church Oxford.
Physical description
Watercolour drawing
Dimensions
  • Height: 227mm
  • Width: 330mm
Style
Credit line
Henry Herbert Harrod Bequest
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
This drawing carefully records the rooms of wealthy students in Canterbury Quadrangle at Christ Church, a college of Oxford University. It is one of a group of drawings. The furnishings epitomise the mid Victorian ideal of the comfortable living room or parlour. They include a fitted carpet, softly upholstered neo-Rococo chairs (with interior springs), a large centre table and a piano. But the plain walls with their floral wallpaper borders are not typical. The occupant (and decorator) must have been both tasteful and artistic. The borders, chair covers, curtains and carpet all match, and there is an array of fashionable watercolours hanging on the walls. At night the large table would have been the centre of activity. The two lamps at the side would have been placed on it.
Bibliographic reference
Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, and Department of Paintings, Accessions: 1948, Volume II, Henry Herbert Harrod Bequest, London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1957
Collection
Accession number
E.3253-1948

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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