This elegant 19th-century hand-colored lithograph depicts the Drawing Room at Dorfold Hall, Cheshire, an iconic English country house interior rendered with period accuracy and architectural refinement by Joseph Nash.
This refined architectural interior scene presents the Drawing Room of Dorfold Hall, Cheshire, a distinguished Jacobean manor celebrated for its richly ornamented plaster ceilings and formal wood paneling. The composition captures a serene domestic moment: figures in period dress inhabit the space, lending scale, warmth, and narrative to the meticulously rendered interior.
Executed as a hand-colored lithograph, the print exemplifies Joseph Nash’s mastery of architectural perspective and historical detail. Nash was renowned for combining archaeological precision with romantic sensibility, allowing viewers to experience historic English interiors as living spaces rather than static monuments.
The decorative ceiling, classical pilasters, carved chimneypiece, and paneled walls are rendered with exceptional clarity, while the subtle hand coloring enhances depth without overpowering the line work. The work originates from Nash’s landmark publication The Mansions of England in the Olden Time, a foundational record of England’s architectural heritage.
Joseph Nash was born in Lambeth, London, in 1808 and trained as an architectural draftsman before establishing himself as one of the foremost architectural illustrators of the Victorian era. He worked closely with antiquarians and architects, specializing in historic English country houses and interiors.
Nash is best known for The Mansions of England in the Olden Time (1839–1849), a monumental series documenting Tudor and Jacobean architecture through meticulously detailed lithographs. His work bridged artistic illustration and architectural scholarship, preserving interiors that were already undergoing alteration or decay.
Influenced by the Gothic Revival and the growing Victorian interest in heritage preservation, Nash’s prints became essential references for historians, designers, and collectors. His works are held in major public collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum.
Joseph Nash (1808–1878), Drawing Room, Dorfold, Cheshire, c.1840. Hand-colored lithograph, 14 × 19 in. From The Mansions of England in the Olden Time. Excellent architectural subject.
This certifies that the artwork titled Drawing Room, Dorfold, Cheshire is an authentic 19th-century hand-colored lithograph after Joseph Nash, published circa 1840 by Hodgson & Graves. The work is unnumbered, unsigned as issued, and consistent with known impressions from the original publication.
Private Collection
→ Mitch Morse Gallery, New York, NY (acquired in NYC and Europe)
→ Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current owner)
British Museum Collection records for Joseph Nash
Victoria and Albert Museum, The Mansions of England in the Olden Time
Abbey Rare Books & Prints, Joseph Nash catalogue
Royal Institute of British Architects historical archives
This elegant 19th-century hand-colored lithograph depicts the Drawing Room at Dorfold Hall, Cheshire, an iconic English country house interior rendered with period accuracy and architectural refinement by Joseph Nash.
This refined architectural interior scene presents the Drawing Room of Dorfold Hall, Cheshire, a distinguished Jacobean manor celebrated for its richly ornamented plaster ceilings and formal wood paneling. The composition captures a serene domestic moment: figures in period dress inhabit the space, lending scale, warmth, and narrative to the meticulously rendered interior.
Executed as a hand-colored lithograph, the print exemplifies Joseph Nash’s mastery of architectural perspective and historical detail. Nash was renowned for combining archaeological precision with romantic sensibility, allowing viewers to experience historic English interiors as living spaces rather than static monuments.
The decorative ceiling, classical pilasters, carved chimneypiece, and paneled walls are rendered with exceptional clarity, while the subtle hand coloring enhances depth without overpowering the line work. The work originates from Nash’s landmark publication The Mansions of England in the Olden Time, a foundational record of England’s architectural heritage.
Joseph Nash was born in Lambeth, London, in 1808 and trained as an architectural draftsman before establishing himself as one of the foremost architectural illustrators of the Victorian era. He worked closely with antiquarians and architects, specializing in historic English country houses and interiors.
Nash is best known for The Mansions of England in the Olden Time (1839–1849), a monumental series documenting Tudor and Jacobean architecture through meticulously detailed lithographs. His work bridged artistic illustration and architectural scholarship, preserving interiors that were already undergoing alteration or decay.
Influenced by the Gothic Revival and the growing Victorian interest in heritage preservation, Nash’s prints became essential references for historians, designers, and collectors. His works are held in major public collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum.
Joseph Nash (1808–1878), Drawing Room, Dorfold, Cheshire, c.1840. Hand-colored lithograph, 14 × 19 in. From The Mansions of England in the Olden Time. Excellent architectural subject.
This certifies that the artwork titled Drawing Room, Dorfold, Cheshire is an authentic 19th-century hand-colored lithograph after Joseph Nash, published circa 1840 by Hodgson & Graves. The work is unnumbered, unsigned as issued, and consistent with known impressions from the original publication.
Private Collection
→ Mitch Morse Gallery, New York, NY (acquired in NYC and Europe)
→ Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current owner)
British Museum Collection records for Joseph Nash
Victoria and Albert Museum, The Mansions of England in the Olden Time
Abbey Rare Books & Prints, Joseph Nash catalogue
Royal Institute of British Architects historical archives
