Artwork

Display of fabric in the Halifax and Kendal courts at The Great Exhibition of 1851

Display of fabric in the Halifax and Kendal courts at The Great Exhibition of 1851 is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist William Alfred Delamotte. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a watercolour, body‑colour and pencil drawing created in 1851 by the artist Delamotte.

About this work

Overview

The work is a watercolour, body‑colour and pencil drawing created in 1851 by the artist Delamotte. It records the interior of the Halifax and Kendal courts during the Great Exhibition, focusing on the extensive display of textiles that filled the space.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a spacious hall where a multitude of fabrics are suspended from tall poles and arranged on tables. The varied textiles—striped, floral and patterned—are shown in vivid hues, emphasizing the diversity of material culture exhibited at the fair.

Technique & Style

Delamotte employed a combination of transparent watercolour washes, opaque body‑colour accents and precise pencil line work. This mixed approach renders the bright colours of the cloth while retaining the architectural clarity of the vaulted, grid‑patterned ceiling.

History & Provenance

Produced contemporaneously with the 1851 Great Exhibition, the drawing includes handwritten labels identifying the fabrics and bears the artist’s monogram. It remains a documentary record of the exhibition’s textile displays, likely retained in a collection associated with the event’s archives.