Who painted Backs of houses?

Backs of houses was painted by Richard Redgrave in 1825.

Where can I see Backs of houses?

Backs of houses is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Backs of houses?

Backs of houses is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Backs of houses

Richard Redgrave , 1825

Backs of houses is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Richard Redgrave. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Richard Redgrave’s drawing presents the back façades of a row of terraced houses rendered in pencil and watercolour. The work is signed by the artist and concentrates on the often‑overlooked rear elevations, offering a quiet study of domestic architecture.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a weathered wooden house with a sagging porch, its fence and roof overtaken by climbing plants. An empty wooden chair rests on uneven stone steps, while a small tree leans against the porch’s left side, emphasizing the gradual encroachment of nature upon everyday structures.

Technique & Style

Redgrave employs loose, sketchy lines combined with delicate watercolour washes, creating a sense of immediacy. The pencil outlines define the architecture, while the watercolor adds subtle tonal variation, highlighting details such as peeling paint and tangled vines without a highly finished surface.

History & Provenance

The drawing is a signed piece by Redgrave, an English painter known for his genre and landscape works in the 19th century. Its provenance traces to the artist’s own studio inventory, though specific exhibition or ownership history is not recorded in the available documentation.