Design for a "Moresco" Villa (elevation and plan)
Seeking alternatives to the standard architectural poles of classical and Gothic, Davis experimented with Islamic sources in this two-story "Moresco" design. He embellished a standard villa layout with a series of pointed domes, a recessed entrance porch, minaret-like corner pinnacles, and panels of colorful wall ornament. Watercolor washes of green and lilac enhance the playful decorative effect and offset the warm tone of the paper. The latter is left untouched to suggest the primary wall color.
Artwork Details
- Title: Design for a "Moresco" Villa (elevation and plan)
- Draftsman: Alexander Jackson Davis (American, New York 1803–1892 West Orange, New Jersey)
- Date: 1835–92
- Medium: Graphite, ink and watercolor
- Dimensions: 13 1/8 x 9 1/4 in. (33.3 x 23.5 cm)
- Classifications: Drawings, Ornament & Architecture
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1924
- Object Number: 24.66.767
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Alexander Jackson Davis
1835–92
Alexander Jackson Davis
1835–92
Alexander Jackson Davis
1838–39
Alexander Jackson Davis
1834
Alexander Jackson Davis
1835–92
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