Armchair
ca. 1755 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The interest in this chair lies not just in its fashionable Rococo appearance, but in its later use as a prop by the artist Richard Cosway (1742-1821). It was probably made in the 1750s, when such chairs were the height of fashion. Cosway probably bought the chair second-hand in about 1770. He used the chair in several paintings.
The chair was used as a prop for the painting 'Charles Townley with a group of connoisseurs', 1771-1775, now in Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museums, Burnely.
A sitter in another Cosway portrait showing the chair is Elizabeth - or Eliza - Draper (1744-1778), best known for her friendship with the British author Laurence Sterne (1713-1768). Mrs Draper lived in India for most of her life, and met Sterne in 1767, when she was visiting England. Sterne mentioned Mrs Draper in ‘A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy’ published in 1768. He also wrote a ‘Journal to Eliza’ which was published long after his death. Mrs Draper again visited England in the mid-1770s, when Cosway painted her sitting in this chair.
The chair has been covered in modern silk damask (2001), copying the upholstery which is visible in Draper portrait. The stuffing gives rounded profiles to the seat, back and arms.
A pencil drawing in the V&A collection (Museum no.2848:149) by Matthias Lock (ca. 1710-1765) appears to be the design for this chair. Lock, as well as designing and making his own furniture, also supplied some of the furniture designs for Thomas Chippendale's book ‘The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director’, published in 1754.
The chair was used as a prop for the painting 'Charles Townley with a group of connoisseurs', 1771-1775, now in Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museums, Burnely.
A sitter in another Cosway portrait showing the chair is Elizabeth - or Eliza - Draper (1744-1778), best known for her friendship with the British author Laurence Sterne (1713-1768). Mrs Draper lived in India for most of her life, and met Sterne in 1767, when she was visiting England. Sterne mentioned Mrs Draper in ‘A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy’ published in 1768. He also wrote a ‘Journal to Eliza’ which was published long after his death. Mrs Draper again visited England in the mid-1770s, when Cosway painted her sitting in this chair.
The chair has been covered in modern silk damask (2001), copying the upholstery which is visible in Draper portrait. The stuffing gives rounded profiles to the seat, back and arms.
A pencil drawing in the V&A collection (Museum no.2848:149) by Matthias Lock (ca. 1710-1765) appears to be the design for this chair. Lock, as well as designing and making his own furniture, also supplied some of the furniture designs for Thomas Chippendale's book ‘The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director’, published in 1754.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Limewood and pine, carved and gilded; modern silk damask upholstery |
| Brief description | Cosway Sitter's Chair, lime and pine wood, with modern silk damask upholstery, Matthias Lock, England, ca.1755 |
| Physical description | Carved and gilded rococo armchair in the style of the 'French elbow chair' of the 1750s and is upholstered in red damask. The serpentine frame has open-work carving decorated with C and S scrolls, scrolling acanthus leaves, flowers, husks, and fish-scale ornaments. The front cabriole legs terminate in hairy paw feet and balls and the back legs in volutes. The upholstery of the back and seat is tufted. The upholstery is nailed to the arms and seat, but at the back has first been screwed into place. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Purchased with the assistance of the Brigadier Clark Fund through Art Fund |
| Object history | This chair appears in several portraits painted by Richard Cosway (1742-1821). It epitomises the Rococo style in English furniture. It matches an undated drawing by the carver and designer Matthias Lock. The outlines of the chair are entirely composed of curves and the legs show the fashionable, curving 'cabriole' form with naturalistically carved paw feet. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The interest in this chair lies not just in its fashionable Rococo appearance, but in its later use as a prop by the artist Richard Cosway (1742-1821). It was probably made in the 1750s, when such chairs were the height of fashion. Cosway probably bought the chair second-hand in about 1770. He used the chair in several paintings. The chair was used as a prop for the painting 'Charles Townley with a group of connoisseurs', 1771-1775, now in Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museums, Burnely. A sitter in another Cosway portrait showing the chair is Elizabeth - or Eliza - Draper (1744-1778), best known for her friendship with the British author Laurence Sterne (1713-1768). Mrs Draper lived in India for most of her life, and met Sterne in 1767, when she was visiting England. Sterne mentioned Mrs Draper in ‘A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy’ published in 1768. He also wrote a ‘Journal to Eliza’ which was published long after his death. Mrs Draper again visited England in the mid-1770s, when Cosway painted her sitting in this chair. The chair has been covered in modern silk damask (2001), copying the upholstery which is visible in Draper portrait. The stuffing gives rounded profiles to the seat, back and arms. A pencil drawing in the V&A collection (Museum no.2848:149) by Matthias Lock (ca. 1710-1765) appears to be the design for this chair. Lock, as well as designing and making his own furniture, also supplied some of the furniture designs for Thomas Chippendale's book ‘The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director’, published in 1754. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.1-1973 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 25, 2001 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
