Design for Console Table

Art Historical Context

Robert William Hume's "Design for Console Table captures the refined elegance of 19th-century decorative arts. Executed in pen and ink, graphite, and watercolor, the drawing reveals the artist's careful attention to both structure and ornament, typical of preparatory designs intended for furniture makers. Console tables of this period often served as striking focal points in formal rooms, blending architectural elements with graceful curves and decorative motifs. Classified under Ornament & Architecture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, the work underscores Hume's role in bridging fine art and applied design. The medium allows for precise lines that define the table's framework alongside soft watercolor washes that suggest materials and finishes, offering viewers insight into the creative process behind Victorian-era furnishings. Bequeathed by Jessie F. Hume in 1930, this piece preserves a moment of artistic planning that contributed to the rich tradition of ornamental furniture design.

About the Artist

Robert William Hume · 1816–1904

Robert William Hume (1816–1904) was a British artist and craftsman who contributed to the documentation of decorative arts and design in nineteenth-century Britain. Working during the Victorian era, Hume was part of a generation of artists and designers who combined artistic skill with antiquarian interests, producing detailed studies and records of historical objects, ornamental patterns, and arc...