Design for a Classical Country House, Back Elevation 1800 - 1830

This anonymous watercolor drawing, titled "Design for a Classical Country House, Back Elevation," is a meticulous architectural plan for a grand country house. Created sometime between 1800 and 1830, the drawing depicts the rear elevation of the building, highlighting the symmetrical layout and classical features like the arched windows and Palladian-inspired roofline. The inclusion of measurements and the unfinished background suggest this was a working design rather than a finished rendering. The piece exemplifies the popularity of classical architectural styles in early 19th-century Britain, and its inclusion in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art demonstrates its significance as an example of architectural design of the period.