Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 118a

The embossed Suit of Armour from Strawberry Hill Purchased by Horace Walpole of Mons. de Crozet in 1772

Print
after 1842 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This is a type of print called a lithograph. The picture is made by printing from a flat surface (traditionally stone, now often a metal plate), on which the artist draws or paints the original design with a greasy substance. The surface is next prepared, moistened and inked; the greasy printing ink adheres to the design, which is then printed on to a sheet of paper. The suit of armour shown in the print was acquired after the suit was sold at the sale of the contents of Horace Walpole's house at Strawberry Hill. The dealer may have had this print made as a way of advertising that he now had the armour for sale.

Place
Horace Walpole bought the suit of armour shown in this print in 1772. He placed it in a niche on the stairs at his house at Strawberry Hill. From 1753 onwards, Walpole had set about creating what he called his Armoury, a display of his collection of arms and armour on the half-landing on the stairs. This Armoury helped him create the ambience he desired. Since noble families with collections going back over centuries often displayed arms and armour in the great halls of their houses, Walpole's arrangement added an air of ancient ancestral tradition to his newly decorated home.

People
Walpole like other collectors of this period was especially interested in objects associated with famous historical figures. He bought this suit of armour believing it to have been made for King Francis I of France by the famous Italian Renaissance goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe embossed Suit of Armour from Strawberry Hill Purchased by Horace Walpole of Mons. de Crozet in 1772
Materials and techniques
Lithograph, ink on paper
Brief description
Print depicting the embossed Suit of Armour from Strawberry Hill, lithograph, James Henry Nixon, after 1842
Physical description
Print depicting an embossed suit of armour displayed by Horace Walpole at Strawberry Hill.
Dimensions
  • Paper height: 33.8cm
  • Width: 42cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 01/09/2000 by Mounters
Marks and inscriptions
J. H. Nixon (signed)
Gallery label
British Galleries: Walpole's display of armour at Strawberry Hill was intended to create a Medieval atmosphere. He bought the armour illustrated in this print believing it to have been made for Francis I, King of France (1494-1547) by the Italian goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571). Some years after this was published, the armour was discovered to be fake.(27/03/2003)
Object history
Lithographed by James Henry Nixon (born about 1808, active 1830-1847)
Subject depicted
Summary
Object Type
This is a type of print called a lithograph. The picture is made by printing from a flat surface (traditionally stone, now often a metal plate), on which the artist draws or paints the original design with a greasy substance. The surface is next prepared, moistened and inked; the greasy printing ink adheres to the design, which is then printed on to a sheet of paper. The suit of armour shown in the print was acquired after the suit was sold at the sale of the contents of Horace Walpole's house at Strawberry Hill. The dealer may have had this print made as a way of advertising that he now had the armour for sale.

Place
Horace Walpole bought the suit of armour shown in this print in 1772. He placed it in a niche on the stairs at his house at Strawberry Hill. From 1753 onwards, Walpole had set about creating what he called his Armoury, a display of his collection of arms and armour on the half-landing on the stairs. This Armoury helped him create the ambience he desired. Since noble families with collections going back over centuries often displayed arms and armour in the great halls of their houses, Walpole's arrangement added an air of ancient ancestral tradition to his newly decorated home.

People
Walpole like other collectors of this period was especially interested in objects associated with famous historical figures. He bought this suit of armour believing it to have been made for King Francis I of France by the famous Italian Renaissance goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini.
Bibliographic reference
Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1925, London: Board of Education, 1926.
Collection
Accession number
E.190-1925

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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