43/2006

Collection

Paintings, Prints and Drawings

Brief description

Group portrait of a family in a domestic interior, oil on panel, by an unknown artist, c.1815-1820, in a gilt frame with carved and applied moulding, c.1850-1900.

Title

A family scene in a domestic interior

Object name

painting
oil painting

Object number

43/2006

Location

On Display

Production person

Unknown (artist)

Production date

1815-1820 (painted)

Period

Georgian (1714-1837)

Material

paint
mahogany

Technique

painted

Physical description

Oil on panel painting showing seven figures in an interior, in a gilded wooden picture frame with carved feather-tip moulding applied at the sight edge, and a design of fasces bound with ribbon around the edges.

Content description

This painting depicts seven figures in an interior. Two male figures and a female figure are shown sitting on chairs in the foreground, with a small boy playing with a rabbit on the floor in front. There is a black case on the floor by the male figure to the left of the composition. A maid stands behind the central male figure, who holds a glass and a decanter. A male figure stands behind a seated female figure in the midground. The room has a plain wallcovering with a border at the dado and cornice. There are paintings in gilt frames on the walls, some of which are portraits. A gold overmantel mirror has a reflection showing further paintings. There are bronze figures on top of the mirror and on the mantel.

Dimensions

Height: 75cm
Width: 63cm
Height: 57cm
Width: 45cm

Website keywords

serving drink
ceiling treatments
floor treatments
mirrors
seating
tables
ornaments
pictures
textiles
wall treatments
fireplaces
images of rooms
pets

Label

Label text for the digital interactive located in the Reading Room (September 2015- June 2017):

This room is decorated with bronze classical ornaments on top of a large gilt mirror and eighteenth-century family portraits, which suggest that this is an established and refined household. The artist captures the bustle of arriving house guests. You can see the newcomers’ trunk on the floor and the maid in the background removes a visitor’s hat and coat. The rabbit is perhaps a present for the host’s young son.

Rights note

Painting is out of copyright.
The photograph is in copyright to the Museum of the Home