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  • image SM Adam volume 4/40

Reference number

SM Adam volume 4/40

Purpose

[3] Alternative preliminary design for the principal (north) front of a house, c1788, unexecuted

Aspect

Above – Elevation of a three-storey, three-bay building, with a hipped roof. On the ground storey, in the central bay, there is a pedimented, Tuscan porte cochère with a frieze of roundels. This is flanked by windows in the first and third bays, set within relieving arches. Above this there is a string course, ornamented with Vitruvian scroll, which is repeated at the attic storey level. At the first storey level, in the central bay, there is a window set behind an Ionic screen, with capitals containing roundels and a fluted frieze. Above this there is a central fan light, flanked by roundels. In the first and third bays there are further windows, flanked by giant Ionic pilasters, and with half-height windows in the attic register. The building has a fluted frieze, and the first and third bays are surmounted by plinths supporting recumbent sphinxes Below – Plan of the porte cochére, stepped entrance and windows on the ground storey level

Scale

bar scale of 1 1/2 inches to 10 feet

Inscribed

North Front of the Parsonage house at Beckenham and some dimensions given

Signed and dated

  • c1788
    c1788

Medium and dimensions

Pen and pencil on laid paper (220 x 334)

Hand

Probably
Robert Adam

Verso

Preliminary designs for a bridge? and a tympanum

Watermark

Fleur-de-lis within a crowned cartouche

Literature

Rowan, 1985, p. 66
King, 2001, Volume II, p. 122
For a full list of literature references see scheme notes.

Level

Drawing

If you have any further information about this object, please contact us: drawings@soane.org.uk