**History and Development of Drawing Rooms**:
– Drawing rooms originated in 18th-century London as royal morning receptions.
– In the American Civil War, drawing rooms were used for separate gender conversations.
– A 1865 architectural manual in England defined the purpose and size of drawing rooms.
– Until the mid-20th century, gentlemen and ladies had separate activities in the drawing room after dinner.
– The term ‘drawing room’ is less common now and is associated with affluent households in Britain, India, and Pakistan.
– Drawing rooms were initially more modest reception rooms for the middle class.
– In North America, ‘parlor’ was the common term for such rooms until the early 20th century.
– The French term ‘salon’ began to be used for drawing rooms in the early 19th century.
**Railway Usage of Drawing Rooms**:
– Drawing rooms were luxurious private accommodations on passenger trains.
– A Midland Railway Drawing Room Car imported from the US in 1874 was an example.
– In North America, a drawing room on a train could sleep three or more people.
– Amtrak retired its drawing room sleeping cars, but Via Rail Canada still uses them.
– These accommodations are now marketed as triple bedrooms due to outdated nomenclature.
**Drawing Room Plays**:
– Drawing room plays are a genre of theatrical productions named after the room used for entertaining guests.
– These plays have evolved to include comedy and dramatic monologues.
– Drawing room comedy features witty banter among upper-class characters.
– Works by Oscar Wilde, Noël Coward, George Bernard Shaw, Cary Grant, and Ernst Lubitsch are examples of drawing room plays.
– The drawing room play format has transitioned from traditional performances to main street theater and film.
– Drawing room plays encompass comedy, dramatic monologues, and theatrical productions.
– The drawing room play genre includes works by famous playwrights like Oscar Wilde and Noël Coward.
**References and Additional Information**:
– The Oxford English Dictionary provides historical context on the term ‘drawing room.’
– Nicholas Cooper’s work discusses parlors and withdrawing rooms.
– Robert Kerr’s book from 1865 details the planning of English residences.
– A 1874 Midland Railway Pullman Clerestory Coach is mentioned as an American import.
– A 1945 magazine ad for Pullman sleeping cars highlights the concept of drawing rooms for three or more people.
**Summary**:
– Drawing rooms have a rich history dating back to 18th-century London and have evolved in usage and cultural significance over time.
– From luxurious railway accommodations to the setting for sophisticated theatrical productions, drawing rooms have left a mark on various aspects of society.
– The term ‘drawing room’ may be less prevalent today, but its legacy lives on in various forms, from architectural references to theatrical performances.
A drawing room is a room in a house where visitors may be entertained, and an alternative name for a living room. The name is derived from the 16th-century terms withdrawing room and withdrawing chamber, which remained in use through the 17th century, and made their first written appearance in 1642. In a large 16th- to early 18th-century English house, a withdrawing room was a room to which the owner of the house, his wife, or a distinguished guest who was occupying one of the main apartments in the house could "withdraw" for more privacy. It was often off the great chamber (or the great chamber's descendant, the state room) and usually led to a formal, or "state" bedroom.
In modern houses, it may be used as a convenient name for a second or further reception room, but no particular function is associated with the name.
Definition from ChatGPT:
Drawing room:
A drawing room is a formal room in a house where guests are entertained. It is typically used for social gatherings, such as hosting visitors or holding small parties. The drawing room is often furnished with comfortable seating, elegant decor, and may include a fireplace or other features to create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere.