Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by W. Curtis Green, 1893
Untitled, by W. Curtis Green, 1893

Untitled is a drawing by the Impressionist artist W. Curtis Green. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Untitled is a precise pencil drawing by W. Curtis Green, depicting the east elevation of the 'Olde Oake' House in West Bromwich, one of twelve architectural sheets in the series.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing documents the 'Olde Oake' House, highlighting its composite structure: a brick lower section with minimal windows and a wooden upper part featuring a steep roof, latticework, and a columned tower. Annotations like 'dormer window' and 'wall hung out' provide architectural specifics.

Technique & Style

Green employed meticulous pencil work, utilizing cross-hatching to achieve depth and texture. This technique involves layering fine lines at varying angles, creating shaded areas that suggest the building's dimensional qualities.

History & Provenance

Created as part of a set for Richard Phene Spiers, an architect and educator influenced by classical, Egyptian, and Syrian architectural styles, gained through his training at the École des Beaux-Arts and teaching at the Royal Academy.

Context

Spiers' archaeological interests and academic background contextualize the drawing within late 19th- or early 20th-century architectural studies, emphasizing measurement and historical documentation.

Legacy

While the drawing's direct impact is not broadly documented, it reflects the era's architectural scholarship and the pedagogical influence of Spiers, whose students included notable architects.

Artist & collection

Artist

W. Curtis Green

W. Curtis Green left behind delicate pencil drawings from the late 1800s, when artists often sketched city scenes and daily life with fine, careful lines. One untitled work from 1893 shows a quiet corner of London, its…