Mr. and Mrs. William Croscup's Painted Room, c. 1846-1848
Now owned by National Gallery of Canada.
Visit their collection page for information.
The Inspiration for this database collection
The CROSCUP ROOM of Karsdale, Nova Scotia
About 1846-1848 this room was painted by an unidentified artist for William Croscup and his wife, Hannah Amelia Shaffner.
Recognized today as one of the outstanding examples of Pre-Confederation Canadian interior decorative painting, the Croscup Room was acquired by the National Gallery of Canada in 1976 complete with painted walls, floor, fireplace, doors, windows and architectural trim.
Interior decorative painting flourished throughout Nova Scotia, particularly during the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth century.
The forms of decoration included painted wall murals, painted borders, stencil work, and decoratively painted ceilings and floors. Such decoration also extended, at times, to other surfaces, such as furniture and fireplace mantels. In addition to pictorial elements, decoration often featured marbleisation, faux wood grain, and other faux finishes. The mostly anonymous creators were often painters without formal training.
