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Dining room from Kirtlington Park

1748
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 511
Kirtlington Park was built for Sir James Dashwood between 1742 and 1746 by William Smith (1705–1747) and John Sanderson (d. 1783). The house and its park, which was laid out by Lancelot "Capability" Brown (1718–1783), are situated about ten miles north of Oxford. The Museum's room (ca. 1748), originally a dining room, occupied the space behind the three windows on the first floor of the right wing, as shown in the aerial photograph. Its plaster decoration is derived from a design signed by John Sanderson. At the four sides of the ceiling are panels emblematic of the seasons. The overmantel painting of a landscape with figures is signed by John Wootton (ca. 1686–1765) and dated 1748. The marble chimneypiece can be attributed by John Cheere (d. 1787) or Sir Henry Cheere (1703–1781). The mahogany doors and shutters are equipped with their original gilt-bronze hardware. The oak floor was probably cut from trees felled on the estate. The newly painted color of the room approximates the original color, as documented by microscopic examination of the various layers of paint.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Dining room from Kirtlington Park
  • Designer: John Sanderson (active from ca. 1730–died 1774)
  • Maker: Chimneypiece possibly by Sir Henry Cheere (British, London 1703–1781 London)
  • Maker: Chimneypiece possibly by John Cheere (British, London 1709–1787 London)
  • Maker: Plasterwork attributed to Thomas Roberts (active 1685–1714)
  • Date: 1748
  • Culture: British, Oxfordshire
  • Medium: Wood, plaster, marble
  • Dimensions: confirmed: 20 ft. 2 in. × 35 ft. 5 in. × 23 ft. 5 in. (614.7 × 1079.5 × 713.7 cm); width extending into window niches 24 ft. 8 in. (751.8 cm).
  • Classification: Woodwork
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1931
  • Object Number: 32.53.1
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Audio

Cover Image for 408. Dining Room from Kirtlington Park

408. Dining Room from Kirtlington Park

Gallery 511

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NARRATOR: In 18th century England, a dining room wasn’t just a place where people ate, it could be a forum to convince others of your politics.

IVAN DAY: There’s always hidden agendas when you invite local politicians around, and that’s what you’ve got around this table

[SFX: DINNER PARTY]

NARRATOR: That’s food historian Ivan Day, and you’re standing in the dining room from Kirtlington Park, an imposing English country house built by the well-to-do politician, Sir James Dashwood. The idea for someone like Dashwood was to give his dinner guests lots to drink and eat to butter them up…

IVAN DAY: And then talk to them afterwards and say, “Well, you know, I’m putting myself up for the next election. I’d be happy if you voted for me.”

NARRATOR: What kind of meal was delectable enough to sway peoples’ political opinions? Well, there’s a record of a dinner at Kirtlington from 1761. And what Sir James Dashwood served might seem a bit…surprising.

IVAN DAY: Something called a calf’s head turtle. How could a calf’s head be a turtle? Well, turtle dinner was the ultimate. So if you couldn’t get one, you made a fake one and they made a fake one – this is a bit gruesome – from the head of a calf, which has got a very similar rather gelatinous flesh.

NARRATOR: As Ivan researched, for dessert, there was a vessel called an “epergne” filled with sweet treats, like the one you see at the center of the table here. If you look closely, you’ll see period accurate chocolates, little biscuits, and something called sugar toys.

IVAN DAY: These are little novelties that were made out of a sugar paste.

NARRATOR: These sugary replicas are meant to give a small taste of what it might have been like to dine here in the 18th century.

Now, take a moment to look beyond the dinner table, at the space that surrounds it. The bold and highly imaginative plaster decoration lining the ceiling and walls was carried out by artist Thomas Roberts. Up close, you can admire the naturalism of the details, like the plumes of feathers and the large eagles. Every element was carefully considered, so that Dashwood could impress his dinner guests.

IVAN DAY: It was quite an exciting occasion for diners that would sometimes last for hours.


More Artwork

More Artwork
Classical Landscape with Roma Figures, John Wootton British, Oil on canvas, British
Classical Landscape with Roma Figures
John Wootton
1748
Dining Room at Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire, John Sanderson British, Pen and brown and gray ink, brush and wash, over graphite
Dining Room at Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire
John Sanderson
ca. 1747–48
Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire: View of the Dining Room, Susan Alice Dashwood British, Watercolor and gouache (bodycolor) over graphite
Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire: View of the Dining Room
Susan Alice Dashwood
1876
Design for the Dining Room at Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire, John Sanderson British, Pen and gray, and brown ink, brush and wash
Design for the Dining Room at Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire
John Sanderson
1747–48
Design for Ceiling at Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire, John Sanderson British, Pen, gray ink with gray and pale yellow washes
Design for Ceiling at Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire
John Sanderson
ca. 1747–48

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