Artwork

Design for a wall and ceiling painting, possibly for Chatsworth, Derbyshire

Design for a wall and ceiling painting, possibly for Chatsworth, Derbyshire is a drawing by the Baroque artist James Thornhill. It dates from 1706 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

This is a drawing Thornhill made for a wall or ceiling in a big house. The house might be Chatsworth in Derbyshire.

He drew it around 1706 as a plan for painted scenes. The Duke of Devonshire hired Thornhill to paint many rooms, so this could be one of them.

Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of Thornhill’s work.

Overview

This drawing is a design for a wall and ceiling painting, created by James Thornhill around 1706-8. It is a potential design for a large domestic space, possibly at Chatsworth in Derbyshire.

Subject & Meaning

The design features a figure of Concord within a niche, among other elements. The presence of Concord suggests a theme related to harmony or unity.

Technique & Style

Thornhill used pen and ink to create the design, with grey wash added to emphasize darker areas. The use of these media allowed for detailed and nuanced rendering of the composition.

History & Provenance

The 1st Duke of Devonshire commissioned Thornhill to paint several walls and ceilings at Chatsworth between 1707-8. While this drawing shares some elements with the Sabine Room at Chatsworth, its exact relationship to the realized design is unclear.