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