Elevation of Fireplace Wall in an Elizabethan Revival Room 1870 - 1890

John Dibblee Crace made this watercolor drawing, Elevation of Fireplace Wall in an Elizabethan Revival Room. The “Elizabethan Revival” was a 19th-century movement where architects looked back to the designs of the 16th century. Notice how the architectural structure looks to past styles for inspiration, but it is designed to modern tastes. The past in these cases is often a fantasy, something that never really existed. Crace was a British interior designer known for his work on numerous high-profile projects, including the refurbishment of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and work for Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. His career shows how design and taste were being shaped by the institutions of the aristocracy, monarchy, and government. By studying sources like design publications, letters, and invoices, historians can investigate the ways that art and design are always shaped by social forces.