Skip to main content

Principles of the folds of drapery; four sketches: 832/7.f.47

An image of Drawing
View image details

Terms of use

The low-resolution images published on this Website are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (CC BY-NC-ND). For more details: Fitzwilliam Terms of Use

This licence does not include any images of works that are still in copyright. Artistic copyright extends from the life of the artist to 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the artist died.

Download this image

For further information on use of images or to license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who can discuss terms and fees.

Alternative views

An image of Drawing
Awaiting location update

Titles

Principles of the folds of drapery; four sketches
Drapery: continuation of recto; axioms

Maker(s)

Draughtsman: Flaxman, John

Entities

Categories

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1916-12) by Murray, Charles Fairfax

School or Style

British

Materials used in production

Grey ink
Graphite

Components of the work

Support composed of laid paper
Leaf Height 230 mm Width 169 mm
Recto
Verso

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: 47
  • Location: Recto, upper right corner
  • Method of creation: Graphite

Inscription present: the sketches are variously numbered from 1-6; the following in grey ink: [i] three preceding words crossed through; [ii] four preceding words crossed through, following word above the line; [iii] preceding word crossed throug, following word above the line; [iv] two preceding words crossed through

  • Text: they being most[i] their forms being most suited to the / conveniencec of the human figures, shew it to display[ii] contain / all the variety[iii] principles of beautiful folds to be found in any / other dress / Principles Of[iv] The Folds / of Drapery / Folds of Drapery are / either direct as 1 or / Curve-linear as 2.
  • Location: Recto
  • Method of creation: Grey ink

Inscription present: the following in grey ink: preceding word crossed through, following three above line; [ii] preceding word crossed through; [iii] preceding word crossed through

  • Text: The Ends or joints of folds are of two kinds / A Hollow with a circular end as 3 / A Round[i] half Tubical form ending against a hollow / at right angles as 4 / All other forms of the joints or insertions / of the folds of Drapery are compounds of the / foregoing two as 5, 6, &c / Axioms / 1 Direct[ii] Perpendicular & Direct folds / proceed from a projecting point / 2 Curve-linear folds proceed from two / projecting points / 3 Joints of folds are the bending or ending thereof / 4 The Strongest folds are in the Vo[iii] hollows / of the figure
  • Location: Verso
  • Method of creation: Grey ink

Identification numbers

Accession number: 832/7.f.47
Primary reference Number: 38762

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 25 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2026) "Principles of the folds of drapery; four sketches" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/38762 Accessed: 2026-02-12 20:59:55

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/38762 |title=Principles of the folds of drapery; four sketches |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2026-02-12 20:59:55|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-38762

Bootstrap HTML code for reuse

To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:

<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/pdp/pdp79/large_832_7_f_47_r_201309_amt49_dc2.jpg"
        alt="Principles of the folds of drapery; four sketches"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Principles of the folds of drapery; four sketches</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...

University of Cambridge Museums logo
Cambridge City Council logo
Arts Council England Logo
Research England logo