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Vertical Section of a Four-Story House with Greek Wall Ornament

Vertical Section of a Four-Story House with Greek Wall Ornament by Anonymous, British, 19th century

Medium

Watercolor, pen and ink

Dimensions

sheet: 12 3/4 x 8 3/4 in. (32.4 x 22.2 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, 1952

Accession Number

52.525.3

Tags

HousesArchitecture

Art Historical Context

This delicate 19th-century watercolor and pen-and-ink drawing presents a precise vertical section through a four-story British townhouse, revealing its internal structure from foundation to roof. Rendered on a modest sheet measuring 12¾ × 8¾ inches, the anonymous artist's meticulous lines delineate rooms, stairwells, and chimneys, while subtle watercolor washes add depth and suggest materials like brick and plaster. Ornate Greek Revival wall decorations—friezes, columns, and pediments—adorn the elevations, blending classical elegance with practical urban living. Created in Britain during the ...

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