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Student Artwork Guide

Scale force

Name Class Date

Thomas Allom, Scale force. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Thomas Allom wahooart.com/en/artists/thomas-allom/
Artist’s dates
1804 – 1872

In context

Scale force — Thomas Allom

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1800
  2. 1810
  3. 1820
  4. 1830
  5. 1840
  6. 1850
  7. 1860
  8. 1870

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 68 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Thomas Allom (1804–1872) every dated painting, decade by decade

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: wahooart.com/en/art/similar/thomas-allom-scale-force-A26NJR-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Sap Green #645d47

    Catalogued palette

    • #645D47
    • #919287
    • #383222
    • #BFC3BB

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Main colour name
    Sap Green
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Thomas Allom over the last twelve months — 5 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 87.9%2,900 visits
    2. 2 Canada 3.0%100 visits
    3. 3 United Kingdom 3.0%100 visits
    4. 4 Philippines 3.0%100 visits
    5. 5 United States of America 3.0%100 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Thomas Allom

    1. 1 A coastal landscape with a ruined tower 10.8%400 visits
    2. 2 View of london from the steeple of st bride's church, fleet street looking towards st paul's cathedral 5.4%200 visits
    3. 3 Whampoa from Dane's Island 5.4%200 visits
    4. 4 Loch achray, perthshire 5.4%200 visits
    5. 5 West Gate of Ching-Keang-Foo 5.4%200 visits
    6. 6 Dinner Party at a Mandarin's House 5.4%200 visits
    7. 7 Eaton hall 5.4%200 visits
    8. 8 Megerdich jivanian 2.7%100 visits
    9. 9 A Coffee House in Tophane 2.7%100 visits
    10. 10 The greek church of baloukli near constantinople 2.7%100 visits
    11. 11 Johanna isser grosrubatscher kastelbell 2.7%100 visits
    12. 12 Ladies of a Mandarin's Family at Cards 2.7%100 visits
    13. 13 Pic du Midi d'Ossau 2.7%100 visits
    14. 14 Entrance to Amoy 2.7%100 visits
    15. 15 Lowdore 2.7%100 visits
    16. 16 A busy darlington road with st. cuthbert's church in the distance 2.7%100 visits
    17. 17 An extensive view of london from st paul's cathedral, looking west 2.7%100 visits
    18. 18 The hill of the Croix-Rousse. 2.7%100 visits
    19. 19 Termination of the Great Wall 2.7%100 visits
    20. — Scale force this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 75.6% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 83 works by this artist, of which 28 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Thomas Allom

    Born in Lambeth, United Kingdom

    Thomas Allom: A Life in Architecture and Topography

    Born: Lambeth, United Kingdom (1804)

    Died: 1872

    Thomas Allom was a multifaceted figure of the 19th century, recognized as an English architect, artist, and particularly renowned for his topographical illustrations. His career spanned architectural design, collaboration on significant national projects, and extensive travel documentation through art. He holds the distinction of being a founding member of what would evolve into the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), underscoring his contribution to the professionalization of architecture.

    Early Life and Architectural Training

    Apprenticeship: In 1819, Allom began his career as an apprentice to architect Francis Goodwin. This period provided him with foundational architectural knowledge and practical experience until 1826.

    Royal Academy Studies: Following his apprenticeship, he pursued formal training at the Royal Academy School, honing his artistic skills alongside his architectural studies.

    Early Designs: His early designs for churches, exhibited in 1824 and 1827, garnered considerable attention, signaling a promising career trajectory.

    Partnership with Lockwood and Architectural Projects

    Hull Partnership (1834-1843): Allom formed a partnership with Henry Francis Lockwood in Hull, resulting in the design of several notable neo-classical buildings.

    Key Architectural Works: This period saw the creation of significant structures including:

    Hull Trinity House (1839)

    Extensions to Hull Royal Infirmary (1840)

    Great Thornton Street Church (1843)

    Liverpool Workhouse Expansion: The partnership also extended to the expansion of the Brownlow Hill workhouse in Liverpool (1842-1843).

    London Designs: Later in his career, Allom designed various buildings in London, such as a workhouse in Marloes Road, Kensington (1847), the Church of Christ in Highbury (1850), and St. Peter's Church in Notting Hill (1856).

    Topographical Illustrator: Travels and Publications

    Extensive Travel: From the 1820s onwards, Allom embarked on extensive travels throughout the UK, mainland Europe, Turkey, Syria, and Palestine.

    Constantinople and Asia Minor (1838): His journey to Istanbul in 1834 resulted in hundreds of drawings that were compiled into "Constantinople and the Scenery of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor," published in 1838. This work is considered a landmark achievement in topographical illustration, providing detailed visual documentation of these regions.

    China Illustrated (1845): "China Illustrated," published in 1845, showcased his observations and artistic renderings of China, further solidifying his reputation as a significant travel artist.

    Other Illustrations: He also contributed illustrations to various publications including "Family Secrets" by Mrs. Ellis (1841) and “A Topographical History of Surrey” by E.W. Brayley (1850).

    Legacy and Historical Significance

    Thomas Allom’s legacy rests on his dual contributions as an architect and a topographical illustrator. While his architectural works, though significant, are often overshadowed by his illustrations, they demonstrate his versatility and skill in design. His detailed depictions of Constantinople, Asia Minor, and China provided invaluable visual records for a period when travel to these regions was challenging and documentation scarce. His work significantly influenced the development of topographical art and contributed to a broader public understanding of distant lands during the Victorian era. He is remembered as a skilled artist who captured the essence of places and cultures through his meticulous drawings and engravings, leaving behind a rich visual archive for posterity.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Scale force

    wahooart.com/en/art/download/thomas-allom-scale-force-A26NJR-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Allom, Thomas. Scale force. n.d., https://wahooart.com/en/art/thomas-allom-scale-force-A26NJR-en/
    APA
    Allom, Thomas (n.d.). Scale force [Painting]. https://wahooart.com/en/art/thomas-allom-scale-force-A26NJR-en/
    Chicago
    Thomas Allom. Scale force. n.d. https://wahooart.com/en/art/thomas-allom-scale-force-A26NJR-en/
    Harvard
    Allom, Thomas (n.d.) Scale force. Available at: https://wahooart.com/en/art/thomas-allom-scale-force-A26NJR-en/

    Look closely

    Scale force — Thomas Allom

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at A Coffee House in Tophane, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
    5. If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    What level of contrast does "Scale force" by Thomas Allom show?

    The contrast level of "Scale force" by Thomas Allom is statement.

    Can I use augmented reality to see "Scale force" by Thomas Allom in my room?

    "Scale force" by Thomas Allom can be previewed on your own wall with the artwork's AR Preview page, using augmented reality on a compatible device.

    Is "Scale force" by Thomas Allom in the public domain?

    The copyright answer for "Scale force" by Thomas Allom: the work is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. This determines whether reproductions of the image may be freely made.