PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS
Objects in the Paintings and Drawings Collection
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Design for an elaborate cartouche with the Medici Arms flanked by Justice and Prudence by Il Poccetti
This large and powerful composition is expressive of the emergence of the early Baroque. The design incorporates the allegorical figures of Justice (with a sword) and Prudence (with a mirror) flanking the Medici arms.
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Two designs for wallpapers by William Morris
Two original wallpaper designs by William Morris - 'Fruit' or 'Pomegranate' and 'Wreath'. 'Fruit' is one the most enduringly popular and is still available from the Morris & Co. division of Sandersons, who own the original printing blocks.
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Three watercolours from the ‘Paper Museum’ of Cassiano dal Pozzo
These three watercolours once formed part of the museo cartaceo or 'paper museum' assembled by the 17th-century Roman antiquarian and collector Cassiano dal Pozzo. This was a vast visual encyclopaedia of the ancient and natural worlds, consisting of thousands of drawings and prints.
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Design for a State Bed by John Linnell
The V&A collection holds hundreds of the designs and workshop drawings from the 18th-century furniture maker John Linnell. This elaborate and imaginative design for a state bed is one of Linnell's earlier explorations of the neoclassical style.
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Walter Crane Design for ‘Illustrations of the Victorian Series and Other Wall-Papers’
This design for the cover of a book of wallpapers manufactured by Jeffrey and Co was created by Walter Crane (1845-1915) in 1887. This image shows a winged young man blowing a horn or trumpet, surrounded by swirling acanthus leaves. Walter Crane's monogram - his initials and a crane - can be seen at the bottom right hand corner of the design.
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Design for a Constructivist stage setting by Alexandra Exter
Alexandra Exter's design for theatrical settings has always been distinguished by innovative approach to the interpretation of theatrical space. As a member of the Russian Constructivist group, Exter was keen to introduce principles of architecture, volume and dynamism, all of which are clearly visible in this design for a stage setting created in 1924.
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Drawings for Sculpture of 'America'
These three drawings by John Bell (1812-1895) are designs for a sculpture representing America, made for one corner of the base of the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, London, in 1864.
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Constable's Studies for the Hay-Wain
Originally exhibited under the title 'Landscape: Noon', the finished painting was referred to by Constable's friend Archdeacon Fisher as 'The Haywain' as early as February 1821, and this soon became its popular name.
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Newfoundland by Sarah Woodfine
Sarah Woodfine trained as a sculptor, and this is evident in her approach to landscape, architecture and optical illusion, which are recurrent themes in her drawings.
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Nicholas Hilliard's 'Young Man Among Roses'
Nicholas Hilliard's 'Young Man Among Roses' has come to epitomise the romantic vision of the sonnet hero of Shakespeare's England. Tall, with handsome features, curly dark brown hair, and an incipient moustache, he leans with his hand on his heart against the trunk of a tree encircled by a bush of white roses.
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Recording Britain
At the outbreak of World War II an ambitious scheme was set up to employ artists on the home front. The result was a collection of more than 1500 watercolours and drawings that make up a fascinating record of British lives and landscapes at a time of imminent change.
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Trellis Wallpaper
Today William Morris is probably best known as a designer of wallpapers and textiles, but it was his own experience of decorating a home which prompted him to turn to the design and production of domestic furnishings. Trellis was his first wallpaper pattern, and is just one of the many works by Morris in the V&A.