Design for a Smithy and Two Cottages
late 19th–early 20th century
Medium
Pen and ink, over graphite, with watercolor
Dimensions
sheet: 18 1/4 x 11 1/2 in. (46.4 x 29.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Exchange, Royal Institute of British Architects, 1960
Accession Number
60.724.107
Tags
Art Historical Context
Charles Edward Mallows, a British architect of the Arts and Crafts movement created this evocative *Design for a Smithy Two Cottages* in late 19th to early 20th century The drawing depicts a harmonious rural ensemble: a sturdy blacksmith's workshop flanked by two quaint cottages, blending functionality with picturesque charm. Rendered on a modest sheet of 18¼ × 11½ inches, it captures Mallows' signature interest in vernacular architecture, drawing inspiration from England's traditional countryside buildings to promote simple, handcrafted designs amid rapid industrialization. Executed in pen a...