Artwork
A lapidary
A lapidary is a paint painting by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1826 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This 1826 watercolour painting portrays a lapidary at work, one of a series of 35 artworks documenting various trades and occupations.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is an older lapidary, identifiable by his task, dressed in a green turban and white attire. The scene focuses on his craft, suggesting the artist's interest in depicting everyday, skilled labour.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the piece features a plain background, emphasizing the lapidary's activity. Details include a spinning stone wheel, a knife being sharpened, a water bowl, and nearby colored stones, highlighting the artist's attention to the specifics of the craft.
History & Provenance
Created in 1826 as part of a larger collection of 35 drawings on trades, the painting's provenance and current location are not specified in available information.
Context
The artwork aligns with the themes of Romanticism, which often emphasized the beauty in everyday life and the dignity of labour, though it does so with a straightforward, observational approach.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
