Design for an Oval Mirror
late 18th–early 19th century
Medium
Pen and ink, brush and wash, watercolor
Dimensions
sheet: 15 5/8 x 8 1/4 in. (39.7 x 21 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1935
Accession Number
35.73.10
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 18th to early 19th century British architect and draughtsman John Yenn created this elegant *Design for an Oval Mirror a delicate rendering that captures the refined ornamental tastes of the Georgian and Regency eras. Rendered on a sheet measuring 15 5/8 x 8 1/4 inches, the work exemplifies the period's fascination with symmetrical, classical-inspired furniture and decorative arts, where mirrors served as both functional objects and statements of sophistication in grand interiors. Yenn employed pen and ink for precise outlines, enhanced by brush and wash with watercolor to suggest...