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1884.117.63

Oil painting of interior with figures

On display

1884.117.63

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Oil painting of interior with figures
Long description
Oil painting of interior with figures, previously in a glazed gilt frame. It was removed from the frame when selected for new permanent display. The painting has a leather panel attached along one side, which suggests that it may originally have been one of the covers for a book.[JU 15/8/2008]
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1884
Date collected
Prior to 1884
Acquisition information
Donated: 1884
Materials and processes
Material Oil Paint, Material Pigment, Process Painted
Dimensions
Width: max 314 mm, Length: max 490 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1884.117.63
Research and responses

This object forms the basis of the dissertation "The Conservation of a Persian Lacquer Bookbinding at the Pitt Rivers Museum: Investigation into the manufacturing techniques, deterioration mechanism, and methodological approach to the conservation of its lifting and flaking coating" by Miriam Orsini. Miriam Orsini undertook a placement in the PRM conservation department from 17 February 2014 - 24 July 2014 and the dissertation was submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MSc in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums of University College London in 2014. A copy of the dissertation can be found in the RDF [HR 9/10/2015]

Caption prepared for The Public Catalogue Foundation: 'This painting is part of the founding collection given to the University of Oxford by General Pitt-Rivers in 1884. The scene depicted is probably from a mystical romance or historic epic, which were popular subjects in Persian painting. For a long time this picture, which is painted on a wooden board, was in a gilt frame. When it was selected for a new display in 2008, staff in the Museum's conservation department took it out of the frame to examine its condition. They discovered that a narrow leather panel was attached to one side of the board, suggesting that originally it was not produced as a picture to hang on the wall, but as a cover for a book or album.' [FB 15/11/2012]

Associated publications
Illustrated in colour on page 272 of The Colleges (R–W), The University, The Rhodes Trust, Vol. 2 of Oil Paintings in Public Ownership in Oxford University (London: The Public Catalogue Foundation, 2015). NB The image appears with a minimal caption, with further details appearing on page 298. For the online version, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/galleries/locations/the-pitt-rivers-museum-university-of-oxford-7496 [JC 18 11 2015]

Search terms: Picture and Graphic Art, Painting

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