Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Somers Clarke. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a pencil drawing that records architectural fragments from a cathedral, focusing on the capitals of columns.
About this work
Overview
The work is a pencil drawing that records architectural fragments from a cathedral, focusing on the capitals of columns. Four distinct column forms are rendered, ranging from plain, smooth-topped shafts to a more elaborately carved example and a diminutive structure featuring a window.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing isolates the decorative tops of columns, highlighting variations in design and function within the cathedral’s arcade. By labeling two of the columns as belonging to an arcade, the artist emphasizes their role in a covered passageway defined by a repetitive columnar rhythm.
Technique & Style
Executed in graphite, the piece employs cross‑hatching to model volume and suggest shadow, with quick, light handwriting indicating informal notes. The varied line density creates a sense of depth, while the minimalistic approach underscores the structural details rather than ornamental excess.
History & Provenance
The drawing is untitled and catalogued simply as a drawing. No further information about its creation date, artist, or ownership history is provided.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Somers Clarke was an architect and English Egyptologist who worked on the restoration and design of churches and at a number of sites throughout Egypt, notably in El Kab, where he built a mud brick house.
Untitled
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Untitled