James Roberts, British, active France, ca. 1800–1867 Search this
Medium:
Brush and watercolor, gouache, gum Arabic, graphite on white wove watercolor paper Attached label: Brush and black ink, graphite, ruled lines over gold paint on cream paperboard
Dimensions:
Frame H x W x D (Old Frame): 55.9 x 63.5 x 3.2 cm (22 in. x 25 in. x 1 1/4 in.)
Sheet: 27.3 x 38.5 cm (10 3/4 x 15 3/16 in.)
Type:
interiors
Drawing
Object Name:
Drawing
Date:
August 1848
Catalogue Status:
Research in Progress
Description:
An interior view of a salon, identified as Queen Victoria's private sitting room, shows a semicircular alcove at right and a fireplace at left. French windows, shaded by striped awnings, lead on to a balcony. A sense of intimacy is conveyed by the slipcovered furniture, most prominently an English form of a tete-a-tete, viewed from behind, and a draped piano at lower right. The facing wall and that on the left are hung with portrait paintings in elaborate gilt frames. A central six-armed chandelier is suspended from the ceiling, which is coffered in an intricate interlace design. Tables, divans and chairs are arranged on a carpet patterned in green and gold ovals on a blue field. Various examples of objets d'art are visible: a gilt birdcage surmounted by a circular fishbowl in the alcove at right, numerous glass-covered figurines and classical marble busts. Especially touching is the cluster of children's toys.
