These drawings show Robert Adam's initial design for reducing and regularising Osterley, with the demolition of the east range, and the ends of the north and south ranges, forming a U-shaped house. It is interesting to note that the curving external stairs on the garden (west) front of the house are shown in the section (Adam volume 43/95), but not in the plans (Adam volumes 43/96-97), and it is therefore not known if this was part of Adam's design, or a pre-existing feature.

The scheme show in these drawings was not executed, and was superseded in 1763 by Adam's executed designs for demolishing only the central portion of the east range. The open double portico was only added to this space a decade later. It has been suggested that the portico was inspired by Robert Wood's illustration of the entrance to the court of the Temple of the Sun at Palmyra.

Adam volumes 43/96, 43/93 and 43/95 are duplicates or copies of Adam office drawings within the National Trust drawings collection at Osterley. Moreover, there is an elevation for the south front of the house, an elevation of the east front exactly as built, and a sized elevation and profile of the unexecuted retaining wall pedestal to the entrance steps.

Group

Digitisation of the Drawings Collection has been made possible through the generosity of the Leon Levy Foundation

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