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