The embossed Suit of Armour from Strawberry Hill Purchased by Horace Walpole of Mons. de Crozet in 1772
Print
after 1842 (published)
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.
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 | |
Title | The 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 |
|
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 created | March 27, 2003 |
Record URL |
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