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Designs for the west, north and south fronts of the house, 1789, possibly executed (5)
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Designs for the west, north and south fronts of the house, 1789, possibly executed (5)
Notes
The alternative designs for the principal (west) front are the earliest in this scheme. SM Adam volume 29/60 appears to have been the favoured design, with a number of ornamental elements reproduced in the design for the north front (SM Adam volume 29/63), produced a month later.
It is not known if Adam’s scheme for Ruscombe was executed, as the house was demolished in the 1830s. Near contemporary accounts refer to an extensive rebuild undertaken by Sir James Eyre, and King highlights the fact that the dates of the scheme extend over a six-month period, suggesting them to be of some significance.
In October 2008 a late eighteenth-century English lead ornamental composition comparable to that designed for the roof line of the south façade, was auctioned at Sotheby’s, New York. This suggests Adam’s scheme was at least part-executed. See scheme notes.
It is not known if Adam’s scheme for Ruscombe was executed, as the house was demolished in the 1830s. Near contemporary accounts refer to an extensive rebuild undertaken by Sir James Eyre, and King highlights the fact that the dates of the scheme extend over a six-month period, suggesting them to be of some significance.
In October 2008 a late eighteenth-century English lead ornamental composition comparable to that designed for the roof line of the south façade, was auctioned at Sotheby’s, New York. This suggests Adam’s scheme was at least part-executed. See scheme notes.
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Digitisation of the Drawings Collection has been made possible through the generosity of the Leon Levy Foundation
If you have any further information about this object, please contact us: drawings@soane.org.uk
Contents of Designs for the west, north and south fronts of the house, 1789, possibly executed (5)
- [1] Design for the principal (west) front of the house, 1789, possibly executed
- [2] Alternative design for the principal (west) front of the house, 1789, unexecuted
- [3] Alternative design for the principal (west) front of the house, 1789, unexecuted
- [4] Design for the north front of the house, 1789, possibly executed
- [5] Design for the south front of the house, 1789, possibly executed