Church furnishing in 19th-century England
During the 19th century, England saw an unprecedented expansion in the number of churches being built around the co…
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Industry, religion and the British Empire
The mid-Victorians were convinced that their way of life was not only better but also quite unlike that known by th…
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Gender ideology & separate spheres in the 19th century
'The principle which regulates the existing social relations between the two sexes - the legal subordination of one…
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Art school drawings from the 19th century
Art education in 19th-century Britain was shaped by four London-based organisations: the Royal Academy Schools, the…
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19th-century opera
A succession of great divas dominated opera from the mid 19th century and no male singer could match their populari…
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History of cloisonné enamels in Japan 1838-1871
With the exception of an enamelled mirror in the collection of the Shōsōin, the repository of Imperial treasures in…
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Steam & speed: The power of steam on land
Steam locomotives were extensively used on colliery and quarry lines, particularly in the north east of England, and experimentally in other areas, during the first decades of the nineteenth century, with the technology being constantly improved by engineers such as George Stephenson and Richard Trevithick.
Corsets & crinolines in Victorian fashion
Changes in body shape throughout the Victorian period were facilitaded by new attitudes and technology. From cage crinolines to bustles and body-huggins corsets, it was often the structure worn under clothes which gave Victorian fashion its form.
Walter Crane cover 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.
Victorian
During the Victorian age, when Queen Victoria was on the throne from 1837 to 1901, Britain was the most powerful nation in the world, undergoing an industrial revolution, social reform and advances in science, technology and culture. In 1851 the Great Exhibition, housed in the Crystal Palace, had an enormous impact on the development of art and design throughout the Victorian age and led to the founding of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Introduction to 20th-century fashion
A look at 20th century fashion through the many ways in which historical fashion has influenced it.
British Design 1948–2012: Innovation in the Modern Age
31 March–12 August 2012
Showcasing over 300 British design objects, this exhibition celebrates the best of British post-war art and design from the 1948 ‘Austerity Games' to the summer of 2012.
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Nineteenth-Century Fashion in Detail
'Stirs up the 19th century in all its sumptuousness and diversity … the garments spring from the page with a beauty and freshness that belies their age and fragility' The Daily Telegraph
Buy nowEvent - A Proliferation of Pattern: Twentieth Century Textiles and Wallpapers 1920-2000
Thu 26 April 2012 14:00
COURSE: Study the history of 20th century pattern and explore exciting developments and innovations in modern design. Thursdays, 26 April – 5 July 2012 (Half term: 7 June 2012), 14.00–16.30
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