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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

More Artwork

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Classical Landscape with Roma Figures, John Wootton British, Oil on canvas, British
Classical Landscape with Roma Figures
John Wootton
1748
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
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

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