Miniature Design Card
Object name
Based on design by
Date made
Early 20th Century
Description
Pencil sketch design showing a 4-paneled screen based on a design by Selwyn Image. Selwyn Image was a former clergyman and a designer and writer and part of the Arts and Crafts Movement. A member of the Art Workers Guild and a founding member of the Century Guild he is particularly notable for his stained glass and embroidery designs and completed a number of designs for the Royal School of Art Needlework, later the Royal School of Needlework.
Content description
The first design is drawn in pencil on tracing paper that has then been attached to the Miniature Design Card, and there are pictures of the front and the reverse. The second design is the same, except it is on a different colour of tracing paper. The drawing depicts a four-panelled screen based on a design by Selwyn Image. Each panel depicts a different Roman Goddess.
The first panel shows Juno, queen of the Gods and the Goddess of marriage and childbirth, facing right with two peacocks at her feet and peacock feathers in her hair - in Roman mythology the peacock is her sacred animal. The second panel shows Minerva, who is Goddess of many elements including wisdom, poetry, craft, and medicine. She is shown facing left with an owl at her feet, as with Juno, the owl is the sacred animal of Minerva. Minerva is shown wearing a sash, the word 'Sapient' is visible across her body, likely derived from 'sapiens' meaning 'wise' in Latin.The third panel shows Venus, the Goddess of love, beauty and fertility. She is shown facing right holding a stem of flowers and with a flower crown - possibly representing common myrtle, one of her symbols. The fourth panel shows Proserpina, the Goddess of the underworld and springtime. She is shown facing left, and is holding a long staff - this is likely a long torch that she is often depicted holding to light her way. She also has a flower crown and is holding flowers, likely to represent new spring growth. At her feet is a snarling wolf.
The background of leafy trees is the same across all four panels.
To the bottom right of the drawing 'S. Image' is written. To the top left of the drawing dimensions for the completed screen are given:
No. 1, Each panel 3ft 10 1/2" x11"
No. 2, 4ft 6" x 17"
There is a stamp in blue/purple ink that reads 'Painting Room'
The same dimensions are given on the back of the second version, described as original size and second size.
The first panel shows Juno, queen of the Gods and the Goddess of marriage and childbirth, facing right with two peacocks at her feet and peacock feathers in her hair - in Roman mythology the peacock is her sacred animal. The second panel shows Minerva, who is Goddess of many elements including wisdom, poetry, craft, and medicine. She is shown facing left with an owl at her feet, as with Juno, the owl is the sacred animal of Minerva. Minerva is shown wearing a sash, the word 'Sapient' is visible across her body, likely derived from 'sapiens' meaning 'wise' in Latin.The third panel shows Venus, the Goddess of love, beauty and fertility. She is shown facing right holding a stem of flowers and with a flower crown - possibly representing common myrtle, one of her symbols. The fourth panel shows Proserpina, the Goddess of the underworld and springtime. She is shown facing left, and is holding a long staff - this is likely a long torch that she is often depicted holding to light her way. She also has a flower crown and is holding flowers, likely to represent new spring growth. At her feet is a snarling wolf.
The background of leafy trees is the same across all four panels.
To the bottom right of the drawing 'S. Image' is written. To the top left of the drawing dimensions for the completed screen are given:
No. 1, Each panel 3ft 10 1/2" x11"
No. 2, 4ft 6" x 17"
There is a stamp in blue/purple ink that reads 'Painting Room'
The same dimensions are given on the back of the second version, described as original size and second size.
Dimensions
width: 15.1cm
height: 24cm
height: 24cm
Materials
Motifs
Catalogue number
DES.003.a-d.MDC
Other numbers
003.b
003.c
MS D1/36
003.c
MS D1/36
© Royal School of Needlework