Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case DW, Shelf 58

Alcestis

Wallpaper
1876 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Portion of 'Alcestis' wallpaper frieze, depicting the figure of Alcestis, a princess from Greek mythology, as a caryatid standing alongside an atlas of the winged personification of Love, on a pale ground; Lettered within the design Y-THIS-YERE?-THE-LEAF-OR-THE-FLOWER?; Colour print from wood blocks, on paper.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAlcestis (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Colour woodblock print, on paper
Brief description
Portion of 'Alcestis' wallpaper frieze, depicting the figure of Alcestis, a princess from Greek mythology, as a caryatid standing alongside an atlas of the winged personification of Love, on a pale ground; Designed by Walter Crane; Colour print from wood blocks, on paper; Produced by Jeffrey & Co.; England; 1876.
Physical description
Portion of 'Alcestis' wallpaper frieze, depicting the figure of Alcestis, a princess from Greek mythology, as a caryatid standing alongside an atlas of the winged personification of Love, on a pale ground; Lettered within the design Y-THIS-YERE?-THE-LEAF-OR-THE-FLOWER?; Colour print from wood blocks, on paper.
Dimensions
  • Height: 700mm
  • Width: 505mm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
ALCESTS / AMOR / Y-THIS-YERE?-THE-LEAF-OR-THE-FLOWER? (Lettered within design.)
Credit line
Given by Mr Emslie John Horniman
Object history
Given by Mr Emslie John Horniman.
Production
A detail of the block for this frieze is reproduced in Art Journal, November 1901, plate on p 333.
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceGreek mythology - The story of Alcestis was popularised in Euripides's tragedy 'Alcestis'.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Oman, Charles C., and Hamilton, Jean. Wallpapers: a history and illustrated catalogue of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Sotheby Publications, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982.
  • Art Journal, November 1901, p 333.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, Accessions 1915, London: Printed under the Authority of His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1916.
Collection
Accession number
E.4034-1915

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Record createdApril 2, 2009
Record URL
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