{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O52449"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O52449/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM5705/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM5705/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM5705","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BV6598","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O52449/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O52449","accessionNumber":"SD.336","objectType":"Watercolour","titles":[{"title":"Girl with a fan","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Object Type:  The Victorian public liked idealised portraits of young girls, and they frequently appear from the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign in oil paintings, watercolours and prints of all kinds. This picture was described in the words of a contemporary as having 'a roundness and sweetness which is never sensual.' \r\nPeople:  William Dobson (1817-1898) had begun as a prolific painter of religious themes, hoping to revive popular interest in them. He went on to paint less weighty subjects, of which this picture is an example. Combining this theme with that of orientalism increased its appeal to the public. From 1842 until 1894 he exhibited many pictures at the Royal Academy.\r\nSubjects Depicted:  Dobson is not known to have visited the Middle East, and this is a studio work put together with more or less authentic props. The girl wears a turban and a striped silk brocade robe of a type common in Syria in the 19th century, but both were worn by men rather than by women in Arab societies.","physicalDescription":"Watercolour drawing","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Dobson, William Charles Thomas (RA, RWS)","id":"A8345"},"association":{"text":"painter (artist)","id":"AAT25136"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"watercolour","id":"x33202"}],"techniques":[{"text":"watercolour drawing","id":"x37878"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Watercolour and gouache","categories":[{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"}],"styles":[{"text":"British School","id":"x30967"},{"text":"Orientalism","id":"x31272"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2006AM5705","2008BV6598"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLD","id":"THES49658"},"free":"","case":"SCX","shelf":"4","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"watercolour","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1864","earliest":"1864-01-01","latest":"1864-12-31"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Shell International and the Friends of the V&A","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"31.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"unmounted","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"unmounted","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 15/08/2000 by PaperCons\n\nEstimated mount size previously given as 57.1 x 47","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Signed with monogram WCTD and dated 1864","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8877"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"According to Rodney Searight: - `Bt.fr. Gerry Hulme   Sept. '61, £3'.","historicalContext":"One of several idealised portraits of young girls painted by this artist, sometimes using oriental costume: cf. At the Masquerade, A, 1878 (274), engraved in The Magazine of Art, I, 1878-9, p.130. The robe (possibly a galabiyyah) and head-dress were worn by men \r\nrather than women.","briefDescription":"Watercolour, A Girl with a Fan, 1864, by William Charles Thomas  Dobson","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"<i>Romantic Lebanon : the European view, 1700-1900</i>.London : British Lebanese Association,1986","id":"AUTH354354"},"details":"25","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"fans and fan-mounts","id":"x39942"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nThe artist William Dobson is not known to have visited the Middle East. This was painted in his studio, following the fashion for exotic dress and decoration. The girl, who is probably English, wears an authentic turban and a striped silk  robe, but both were worn by men rather than women in Arab societies.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["SD.336"],"accessionNumberNum":"336","accessionNumberPrefix":"SD","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP3666","2019LP3381","2019LV6515"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2001-01-22","availableToBook":false}}