Draped Obelisk Grave Monument for "Holme", No. 933 (recto); Sketch of a grave (verso) 1840 - 1880

This graphite drawing of a draped obelisk grave monument for "Holme" was designed by Alexander Maxwell, sometime in the 19th century. The drawing itself is a relatively straightforward affair, and the interest lies in the monument that it depicts. Grave markers like this are often made of marble or granite, materials chosen for their sense of permanence. These stones are quarried, cut, and polished, requiring skilled labor and specialized tools. The scale of the architecture conveys the family’s status, and the amount they were willing to spend on the project. The drapery, carefully rendered here by Maxwell, softens the stone’s hard edges and adds an element of delicate fragility. It suggests mourning and remembrance, reminding us of the human emotions tied to this enduring material. Considering the processes involved in bringing such a monument into being gives us a fuller appreciation of its social and cultural significance.