Design for Square Pianoforte, Grecian Style 1835 - 1900

Here we see Robert William Hume's "Design for Square Pianoforte, Grecian Style," a drawing offering a glimpse into the world of 19th-century design. Hume, born in 1816, lived in a time when the burgeoning middle class sought to emulate the aristocracy in their tastes and lifestyles. The Grecian style, with its associations of democracy and enlightenment, was particularly favored. It is important to acknowledge that this classical revival occurred at a time of sharp class division and that many were excluded from such displays of taste and education. The labor required to produce such an ornate piece would have been immense, likely relying on the skilled work of artisans whose names are now lost to history. As you observe the design, consider who had access to pianos like these. They were instruments of domestic display, reflecting the cultural capital of their owners. Hume’s pianoforte design thus becomes a document of social aspirations, revealing how objects mediate class identity.