{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O128646"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O128646/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GX5079/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GX5079/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014GX5079","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O128646/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O128646","accessionNumber":"S.504-2006","objectType":"Painting","titles":[{"title":"<i>A Country Fair</i>","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Fairs have always provided a variety of entertainment. While the larger fairs were enlivened by anything from juggling and acrobatics to plays and puppet shows, smaller ones were far less spectacular. The attractions shown in Elwood's watercolour sketch are representative of  those found at the minor country fairs throughout Britain. The costumed mountebank appears to be performing a slight-of- hand trick and amusing the crowd by producing a snake from a box. His partner, wearing the traditional jester's cap with ass's ears, attracts less attention with simple comic contortions. They work on a trestle stage which would be easily dismantled for transportation. It is a scene that could belong to any period and only the dress of the audience places it in the 18th century.","physicalDescription":"A man and a jester entertain an audience from a simple trestle stage with an adjoining hut.  The man wears fanciful dress of doublet and breeches, a plumed hat with an exaggerated peak, a cloak, striped stockings and a curved sword. He shows the audience a snake which has apparently emerged from the box in his left hand. The jester wears pseudo-Elizabethan costume and a hat with ass's ears. Her stands on one leg, supporting his raised leg with his left hand. Above the crowd is a signboard inscribed in ink which is partly readable as follows: 'The Fortune Teller / Lost Spoons/ Maidenhead, missing / Lovers [?] strayed ./ &c all restored/ to the right [?]owners'. Unsigned and undated.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Elwood, J","id":"A19066"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"watercolour","id":"x33202"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painting (image-making)","id":"AAT54216"},{"text":"drawing (image-making)","id":"AAT54196"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"watercolour, pen and ink on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014GX5079"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES356678"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"paintings","id":"AAT33618"}],[{"text":"watercolour","id":"x33202"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1800","earliest":"1795-01-01","latest":"1804-12-31"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with financial assistance from the estate of Jack Reading","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Label printed with the words; 'The / Ruskin Gallery Ltd. / 11 Chapel Street / Stratford-on-Avon/', followed by 'J. Elwood / A Country Fair' inscribed in ink, then, printed, 'Established prior to 1800 as Palser Gallery, King Street, London/', and in ink 'From collection of Leonard Duke CBE'. On the right in a smaller hand is written a short illegible note ending '?1971'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed label with ink annotations on backboard of frame"},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":" ","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"The painting may have been in the collection of Professor Allardyce Nicoll (1894-1976), Director of the Shakespeare Institute of the University of Birmingham.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"<i>A Country Fair</i> by J. Elwood. Watercolour, ca.1800. Watercolour","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"fairs","id":"AAT54776"},{"text":"jesters","id":"AAT25663"},{"text":"audiences","id":"AAT192793"},{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"","id":""}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.504-2006"],"accessionNumberNum":"504","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2006,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2006-10-17","availableToBook":true}}