Output details

The Cast Courts, Victoria and Albert Museum [architectural paint research]

Context:

This research revealed the original decorative scheme of the Cast Courts at the Victoria and Albert museum, the first series research on these historic gallery interiors. The research commissioned to endorse the accuracy of the contemporary account and to define the exact locations, applications and treatments of colour.

The research resides in the following processes: -

Site visits and sampling allows researchers to use their knowledge of historic interiors to select appropriate places from which to take paint samples (Report pp. 33-9)

Microscopic analysis revealed patterns in the paint stratigraphy allowing individual paints to be identified (i.e. Report p. 17,18,19,20)

Primary and secondary historical research allowed researchers to place the chronology of the paint stratigraphy in a historical sequence. (main report pp. 2-6)

Collation of the paint sample analysis in tabular form to allows analysis of the decorative scheme as a whole. (i.e. main report p. 7).

Insights included: -

• 5 decorative schemes were identified dating between 1873 and 1979

• The schemes of the two main galleries were co-ordinated - similar colour schemes with inverted main wall face colours (p.3)

• In 1873 colour trials were made on the walls in vivid orange (p. 9)

• Decorative stenciling, 'lining out' and swags were identified in various locations

• the client was advised as to the viability of exposing, conserving or replicating the original scheme

Sharing:

The research was commissioned by the Victoria and Albert Museum and shared in a report that were using to inform their redisplay of the Cast Courts as part of their Future Plan.

Contributors:

Michael Crick-Smith was principal researcher for: sampling strategy, interpretation of paint stratigraphy, interpretation of research findings. He was co-author of the reports and collaborator for archival research.