Who painted Part of the Old Treasury?

Part of the Old Treasury was painted by James Holland in 1837.

Where can I see Part of the Old Treasury?

Part of the Old Treasury is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Part of the Old Treasury?

Part of the Old Treasury is associated with British Romanticism.

Artwork

Part of the Old Treasury

James Holland , 1837

Part of the Old Treasury is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist James Holland. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

James Holland’s 1837 watercolour presents a fragment of Lisbon’s Old Treasury building. The composition centers on a weathered stone arch that opens onto a confined passage, its walls mottled and uneven. Small windows and balconies emerge intermittently, while filtered light penetrates the arch, casting the interior in subdued shadow.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures a moment of urban quietude, emphasizing the texture of aged masonry and the play of light within a narrow alley. By focusing on the modest, often overlooked details of the Treasury’s façade, the painting suggests a contemplative view of history’s layers, inviting the viewer to consider the passage of time within the city’s fabric.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, Holland employs loose, sketch‑like brushwork that imparts a tactile, almost unfinished quality.

Executed in watercolour, Holland employs loose, sketch‑like brushwork that imparts a tactile, almost unfinished quality. The pigment is applied in translucent washes, allowing the paper’s tone to convey depth, while the rapid strokes highlight the roughness of stone and the fleeting illumination. Such an approach aligns with early‑19th‑century watercolor conventions that favored immediacy over meticulous finish.

Context

Created during the Romantic era, the piece reflects the movement’s fascination with atmosphere, historic architecture, and the sublime in everyday scenes. Holland’s emphasis on mood, the interplay of light and shadow, and the evocative sense of a hidden urban space correspond to Romantic ideals that prized emotional resonance over strict realism.

Artist & collection

Artist

James Holland

James Holland (18 October 1799 – 12 February 1870) was an English painter of flowers, landscapes, architecture, marine subjects, and a book illustrator.