Dressing Rooms at Whitehall
Print
1953 (printed and published)
1953 (printed and published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This print was one of a portfolio by various artists commissioned by the Royal College of Art, London, to celebrate the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. Minton was a painter, but recognised as an illustrator and printmaker too. His preferred medium was lithography, which he felt was closer to painting than any other graphic medium. This intimate view of a guardsman's private life indirectly reflects Minton's homosexuality. Guardsmen were popular figures of attraction for upper- and middle-class gay men in the 1950s, and they gained a reputation for availability. As with many of Minton's portraits, this print draws on his fascination with the 'manly ideal'.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Dressing Rooms at Whitehall (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Colour lithograph on paper |
| Brief description | 'Horse Guards in their Dressing Rooms at Whitehall', colour lithograph by John Minton, 1953 |
| Physical description | Colour Lithograph on paper printed in yellow, red and black on white ground. A guardsman seated on his bed in his barracks combing his busby helmet, hanging on brick wall behind him a red guardsman's jacket and a yellow cape or shirt, various bits of toiletry equipment and a pair of boots are spread out on the bed. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Production type | Limited edition |
| Marks and inscriptions | John Minton (1) Signature; pencil) |
| Credit line | Given by the Royal College of Art |
| Production | Printed and published to mark the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953. Attribution note: One of a portfolio published by the Royal College of Art to mark the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Reason For Production: Commission |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | This print was one of a portfolio by various artists commissioned by the Royal College of Art, London, to celebrate the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. Minton was a painter, but recognised as an illustrator and printmaker too. His preferred medium was lithography, which he felt was closer to painting than any other graphic medium. This intimate view of a guardsman's private life indirectly reflects Minton's homosexuality. Guardsmen were popular figures of attraction for upper- and middle-class gay men in the 1950s, and they gained a reputation for availability. As with many of Minton's portraits, this print draws on his fascination with the 'manly ideal'. |
| Associated objects |
|
| Bibliographic reference | Taken from Departmental Circulation Register 1953 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.329-1953 |
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 | December 15, 2002 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
