Style Guide: Classical and Renaissance Revival

There was an enormous revival of interest in Classical and Renaissance art from about 1850. Archaeological discoveries in Greece, Italy and Egypt fuelled the imagination of designers. Renaissance art and architecture of the 15th and 16th centuries, itself inspired by ancient Rome, also had a great influence. Classical and Renaissance pieces were sometimes copied quite closely, but often a variety of forms and motifs were combined or reinterpreted.

  • Photograph after the Manner of the Elgin Marbles



    Photographed by Julia Margaret Cameron
    1867
    Albumen print from wet collodion glass negative
    Museum no. E.2745-1990

  • Perseus



    Statuette
    Frederick William Pomeroy
    1898
    Bronze
    Museum no. A.9-1972

  • Vase



    Alfred Stevens (designer)
    Minton & Co. (maker)
    1864
    Earthenware, painted with enamels
    Museum no. 184-1864

  • Jug



    Reily and Storer
    1840-1841
    Silver with engraved decoration
    Museum no. M.18-1971

  • Brooch



    Carlo Giuliano
    About 1865
    Gold, with filigree and cast decoration, set with mother-of-pearl
    Museum no. 166-1900

  • The Juno Cabinet



    Bruce James Talbert
    1878
    Ebony, inlaid with boxwood, myrtle, mother-of-pearl and ivory, with bevelled mirrored glass panels and cast and chased bronze mounts
    Museum no. W.18:1 to 6-1981

  • Bracket



    William Harry Rogers (designer)
    William Gibbs Rogers (carver)
    About 1853
    Carved boxwood
    Museum no. W.28-1972

  • Plaque



  • The Thebes Stool



    Stool
    Liberty
    1884
    Mahogany or walnut, with leather seat
    Museum no. CIRC.439-1965

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