Artwork

View of the exhibition buildings of 1862

View of the exhibition buildings of 1862, by David Cox
View of the exhibition buildings of 1862, by David Cox

View of the exhibition buildings of 1862 is a drawing by the Impressionist artist David Cox. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This drawing depicts the 1862 exhibition buildings from the vantage point of No.

About this work

Overview

This drawing depicts the 1862 exhibition buildings from the vantage point of No. 2, The Residences, adjacent to the Victoria & Albert Museum, capturing a serene scene with architectural and natural elements.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is the exhibition building's facade, partially obscured by foliage, conveying a sense of quietude and slight wear, with a secondary scene of an educational moment involving the Misses Cole.

Technique & Style

Executed with loose, watery strokes, particularly in the rendering of trees and sky, the drawing exemplifies an innovative, spontaneous technique for its era, emphasizing naturalism.

History & Provenance

Created in the context of the 1862 exhibition, the drawing's provenance is tied to the Victoria & Albert Museum, with the location of creation and original purpose not explicitly stated beyond its subject.

Context

The work reflects the architectural tastes of its time, with rounded arches and a dome, set amidst landscaped grounds, highlighting the intersection of built and natural environments in Victorian-era London.

Legacy

As part of the Victoria & Albert Museum's collection, the drawing provides insight into 19th-century architectural illustration and the evolving techniques of watercolor artists during that period.

Artist & collection

Portrait of David Cox

Artist

David Cox

David Cox (29 April 1783 – 7 June 1859) was an English landscape painter, one of the most important members of the Birmingham School of landscape artists and an early precursor of Impressionism.