Pier Glass

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's and Prints department, *Pier Glass* by Robert William Hume (1850–1904) is a meticulous pen and ink drawing that captures the elegance of Victorian-era ornamental architecture. Created during Hume's lifetime, this work exemplifies the precision of 19th-century draftsmanship, likely serving as a design study for a pier glass—a tall, stately mirror traditionally placed between windows in grand drawing rooms to enhance light and grandeur. Pier glasses were coveted furnishings in opulent interiors of the mid-to-late 1800s, symbolizing wealth and refined ...

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...