Where can I see A group of objects associated with the cultivation of opium?

A group of objects associated with the cultivation of opium is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is A group of objects associated with the cultivation of opium?

A group of objects associated with the cultivation of opium is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of A group of objects associated with the cultivation of opium?

Museum-quality prints of A group of objects associated with the cultivation of opium are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A group of objects associated with the cultivation of opium

Arthur William Devis , 1788

A group of objects associated with the cultivation of opium is a watercolor work on paper by the Rococo painting artist Arthur William Devis. It dates from 1788 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1788 by British artist Arthur William Devis, this watercolour presents a modest still‑life that groups together items linked to the cultivation of opium. The composition centers on a heap of weathered clay jars, a wooden mortar and a scattering of poppy seeds or pods, all arranged on a plain surface.

Subject & Meaning

The objects are not arbitrary; they reference the early stages of opium production, with the poppy vines and buds suggesting the plant’s growth phase and the vessels implying storage and processing. The artist’s own label, "A group of objects associated with the cultivation of opium," confirms the work’s intent as a documentary snapshot rather than a decorative tableau.

Technique & Style

Devis employs a loose, rapid brushstroke typical of his watercolour practice, favoring a muted palette of earth tones—browns, grays and faint greens. The handling of light is subtle, allowing the textures of clay, wood and plant material to emerge without meticulous detail, giving the scene an informal, observational quality.

History & Provenance

The piece belongs to the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it is catalogued among Devis’s lesser‑known sketches. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s own studio inventory, and the work has been cited in scholarly discussions of 18th‑century British interest in exotic commodities and their visual representation.