Catalogue Details

Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt, architect (1820-1877)
Study of the principal doorway of the Catalan Church in Messina, 1845.
Pencil
Signed:      Digby Wyatt
Inscribed & dated:  MESSINA / from the Catalan church - principal doorway /
July 24th 1845
16.4 x 10.4 cms
Museum-board mounted and framed

Digby Wyatt travelled to France, Italy and Germany between 1844-1846.  It was a busy two years preparing records of decorative details from the architecture, sculpture and museum collection seen abroad prior to his return to London to commence preparations for the Great Exhibition of 1851.

The decorated stone carving of this early doorway seen at the Catalan Church in Messina was what caught Digby Wyatt's architectural eye.  He takes care to render the contrasting, elaborate carved patterns of the stonework seen on the archway, capitals and supporting pilasters.   Digby Wyatt notes the building, location and date of his drawing so that he might use it for future reference.  These studies were put to almost immediate use on his return to England as Digby Wyatt was most influential in making traditional European decorative design work available to manufacturing businesses in England in time for the Great Exhibition in 1851 and the years ahead.   Wyatt was a member of the circle of experts that Prince Albert gathered around him to organise and prepare for the Great Exhibition event.

Full biographical details on Digby Wyatt are available in our Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt catalogue.