Artwork
Decorative painting for the Breakfast Room at Kedleston Hall
Decorative painting for the Breakfast Room at Kedleston Hall is a tempera painting by the Rococo painting artist Agostino Brunias. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1761 a series of five tempera panels was installed in the Breakfast Room of Kedleston Hall.
About this work
Overview
In 1761 a series of five tempera panels was installed in the Breakfast Room of Kedleston Hall. Designed by the architect Robert Adam, the works were executed by the Italian painter Agostino Brunis, who had accompanied Adam from Italy to Britain. The panels were set in gilt frames by carver Sefferin Alken and mounted directly into the wall as decorative ornaments.
Subject & Meaning
The panels depict idyllic scenes with luxuriant foliage, playful putti and relaxed female figures rendered in a soft palette. The imagery follows a classical ideal, presenting a harmonious, pastoral atmosphere intended to enhance the elegance of the breakfast space.
Technique & Style
Brunis employed tempera on canvas, attempting to imitate the appearance of fresco. The approach produced a delicate, luminous surface reminiscent of Dutch flower still‑lifes, though the experimental medium proved unstable on the wall setting.
History & Provenance
The panels were completed and installed in 1761, but the tempera deteriorated quickly. By 1766 the Duchess of Northumberland criticized the execution, and the works were removed and the room redecorated. After leaving Britain, Brunis relocated to the Caribbean in 1764, where he continued to produce idealised genre scenes for patrons such as Sir William Young.
Context
The commission reflects Adam’s practice of integrating painted ornamentation into his neoclassical interiors. The collaboration with Brunis, a Roman artist trained at the Accademia di San Luca, illustrates the cross‑cultural exchange typical of the Grand Tour era, where architects sourced continental talent for British country houses.
Artist & collection
Artist
Agostino Brunias (c. 1730 – 2 April 1796) was an Italian painter who was primarily active in the West Indies. Born in Rome around 1730, Brunias spent his early career as a painter after graduating from the Accademia di…
