Painting
Collection object
1991.0479.4
Painting thro' ope, H. 47.7 W. 63.4, frame H. 56 W. 76
Painting; watercolour sketch design for a diorama; titled "Diorama No. 3, "The Normans"; depicts two knights in armour on horseback, both with lances and pennons, looking down towards a large castle at left of picture. The whole is set within a frame, with three rounded arches across the top and three shields set down each side; across the bottom is a field with scale, "2 1/2"= 1'" and an arrow indicating the proposed width of the field as 7 inches; also instructions in black ink "These figures, the two Norman knights are symbolic of the armed might,/ of the Norman conquest; they are formidable, threatening, dignified. Against/ the great expance[sic] of empty sky they stand immobile, statuesque. Animation/ would I think diminish the quality & reduce them to merely toy soldiers, I advise that they be shown as alone, without movement of any sort./ Maybe the horses might, if some movement is required, move heir heads slowly."; signed at bottom right "Thomas Ryan A.R.H.A. 18th April 1965". The painting is on white paper taped to thick brown card, and a card mount hinged at top with tape, over it, with the title of the piece on the mount in the bottom right corner. Inscription on mount at centre in blue ball-point " 3 4/ 1 2". On reverse is a large "3" in red pencil.