Who painted Residence of Richard Dann, Esq., at Hackney?

Residence of Richard Dann, Esq., at Hackney was painted by Unknown in 1810.

Where can I see Residence of Richard Dann, Esq., at Hackney?

Residence of Richard Dann, Esq., at Hackney is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Residence of Richard Dann, Esq., at Hackney?

Residence of Richard Dann, Esq., at Hackney is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Residence of Richard Dann, Esq., at Hackney

Unknown , 1810

Residence of Richard Dann, Esq., at Hackney is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1810 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The drawing records the Hackney residence of Richard Dann, Esq.

About this work

The walls are made of light-colored blocks, and the front door sits at the top of a short set of stairs.

This sketch shows a large, three-story house with a steep roof and many windows. The walls are made of light-colored blocks, and the front door sits at the top of a short set of stairs. Trees and bushes surround the building, and a low fence runs along the front. The whole scene is drawn in simple lines with no color.

The handwriting at the top names the house as belonging to someone called Richard Dann. It was made around 1810, and the artist’s name isn’t known.

Next, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more drawings like this.

Overview

The drawing records the Hackney residence of Richard Dann, Esq., rendered in 1810 by an anonymous hand. Executed as a monochrome sketch, it presents a three‑storey block with a steep roof, numerous windows, and a modest front stair leading to the main door, set within a modest landscape of trees, shrubs and a low fence.

Subject & Meaning

The work serves as a topographical illustration, documenting the architectural form and immediate setting of Dann’s house for purposes of record rather than artistic embellishment. The inclusion of the owner’s name underscores its function as a visual inventory of notable private dwellings in early‑19th‑century Hackney.

Technique & Style

Rendered in simple linear strokes without colour, the drawing relies on light‑coloured stone‑like blocks to suggest wall material. The composition emphasizes architectural detail—roof pitch, window arrangement, and entrance—while surrounding vegetation is indicated by minimal foliage marks, reflecting the utilitarian style typical of contemporary survey sketches.

History & Provenance

Originally part of the John Edmund Gardner collection of London topographical prints and drawings, the piece passed through several private hands before the collection was divided in 1923. The Hackney segment was purchased by the Hon. Arthur Villiers, who subsequently donated it to the Bethnal Green Museum, where it remains in the museum’s holdings.

Context

The drawing belongs to a broader corpus of early 19th‑century London topography, a period when detailed visual records of urban and suburban architecture were compiled for antiquarian and planning interests. Such works often accompanied printed surveys and were collected by enthusiasts like Gardner, reflecting a growing public curiosity about the city’s expanding environs.