Artwork
Elevation of mantelpiece.
Elevation of mantelpiece. is a drawing by Joseph Jago. It dates from 1932 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This 1932 drawing by Joseph Jago is a measured elevation for a mantelpiece, specifically designed for the Haynes Grange Room at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a classical-style fireplace with a stone frame, featuring a flat roof with carved border, tall columns supporting a ledge with a Latin inscription reflecting on life and death. The focus, however, remains on architectural detail rather than thematic interpretation.
Technique & Style
Characterized by clean lines and a emphasis on classic design, the drawing showcases Jago's precise drafting skills, typical of measured architectural drawings.
History & Provenance
Created in 1932 for the Victoria and Albert Museum's Haynes Grange Room, the drawing's provenance is closely tied to the museum.
Context
Part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection, this piece is contextualized among other precise architectural drawings, highlighting early 20th-century approaches to documenting classical design elements.
Legacy
While not individually renowned, the drawing contributes to the museum's archival collection of architectural designs, serving as a reference for classical mantelpiece design.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Jago spent years locked in a single house, sketching every inch of it—walls, windows, moldings—like a detective tracing invisible lines.
