{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O130072"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O130072/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM0016/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM0016/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BM0016","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014GX8029","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O130072/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O130072","accessionNumber":"8134:1","objectType":"Design","titles":[{"title":"Design for the decoration of the permanent buildings of the South Kensington Museums by the late Godfrey Sykes","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Many of the decorative schemes in the North and South Courts of the Victoria and Albert museum were the work of a highly respected, young designer and painter Godfrey Sykes (1824-1866), an Englishman drafted in by Henry Cole. It was Sykes who had influenced the architect, Francis Fowke's choice of terracotta as the signature decorative material for the Museum. From 1861 he was engaged on the vast scheme of decoration for Fowke at the new South Kensington Museum (renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum). With a number of assistants, including James Gamble (1835–1911), Sykes designed for the museum terracotta columns, stained glass, bronze, ironwork, decorations in majolica and mosaic, and tile pavements made by Minton, Hollins & Co. However, Sykes was able to complete only a year's work at South Kensington before he himself died prematurely in 1866.\r\n\r\nThis design for the columns on the exterior of the west side of the Victoria and Albert Museum is articulated by a round-headed colonnade on the ground floor and an open-arcaded loggia on the upper floor. The columns for both are embellished with decorative terracotta to enhance the grandeur of the architecture. The Italian Renaissance revival in 19th century Britain brought with it a reinterest in terracotta decoration which Sykes championed.","physicalDescription":"This is a design on a rectangular piece of paper for terracotta columns in a highly decorative style at the South Kensington Museum","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sykes, Godfrey","id":"A6461"},"association":{"text":"draughtsmen (artists)","id":"AAT112172"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper: hand made","id":"x35575"},{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"pen and ink","id":"x30618"}],"techniques":[{"text":"hand drawn","id":"x34232"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil, pen and ink on paper","categories":[{"text":"Architecture","id":"THES48993"},{"text":"History of the V&A","id":"THES252692"}],"styles":[{"text":"Victorian","id":"AAT21232"},{"text":"Renaissance Revival","id":"AAT21464"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2007BM0016","2014GX8029"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLD","id":"THES49658"},"free":"","case":"BOX","shelf":"75","box":"A"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"design","id":"AAT102051"}],[{"text":"drawing","id":"x32498"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1855-1866","earliest":"1855-01-01","latest":"1866-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"51","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"21","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This design was made by the architect Godfrey Sykes (1824-1866) for the terracotta columns on the exterior of the west side of the Victoria and Albert Museum (previously known as the South Kensington Museum).\n\nHistorical significance: This design demonstrates the popularity of neo-Renaissance architecture in 19th century Britain, exemplified by the use of terracotta.","historicalContext":"Many of the decorative schemes in the North and South Courts of the Victoria and Albert museum were the work of Godfrey Sykes, a highly respected young artist drafted in by Henry Cole. It was Sykes who had influenced the architect, Francis Fowke's choice of terracotta as the signature decorative material for the Museum. From 1861 he was engaged on the vast scheme of decoration for Fowke at the new South Kensington Museum (renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum), and his important work is notable for its use of a  lively Renaissance Revival style. With a number of assistants, including James Gamble (1835–1911), Sykes designed for the museum terracotta columns, stained glass, bronze, ironwork, decorations in majolica and mosaic, and tile pavements made by Minton, Hollins & Co. However, Sykes was able to complete only a few years' work at South Kensington before he himself died prematurely in 1866.","briefDescription":"Design for the decoration of the permanent buildings of the South Kensington Museums, Godfrey Sykes, pen, pencil, paper","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Rosamond Allwood: \"Sykes, Godfrey\" Oxford University Press, [10/08/2005]."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"Victoria and Albert Museum","id":"x32782"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Cole, Henry (Sir)","id":"N2131"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"museums","id":"AAT5768"},{"text":"columns (architectural elements)","id":"AAT1571"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["8134:1"],"accessionNumberNum":"8134","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2006-12-13","availableToBook":false}}