Metal Keyplate for Church
second half 19th century
Medium
Gouache
Dimensions
plate: 3 3/4 x 4 9/16 in. (9.5 x 11.6 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1960
Accession Number
60.632.148(2)
Art Historical Context
This delicate gouache drawing, titledMetal Keyplate for Church*, captures the refined artistry of anonymous British craftsmen from the second half of 19th century. just 3 3/4 x 4 9/16 inches, it depicts an ornate metal keyplate intended for ecclesiastical use, blending functionality with decorative elegance. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's of Drawings and Prints as part of The Elisha Whittelsey Collection (acquired in 1960), it exemplifies the period's fascination with architectural ornamentation. Created in gouache—an opaque watercolor medium prized for its vibrant colors and smoo...