SM Adam volume 1/62

[27] Preliminary design for the Haymarket (east) front of the opera house, c1789, unexecuted

Elevation of a three-storey, seventeen-bay building, with a rusticated arcade at the ground-storey level, and the central five bays form a raised, balustraded, Corinthian portico, with scrolled hearts enclosing anthemia in the capitals. This is surmounted by a plinth with a frieze of continuous circles, and supporting a royal coat of arms, flanked by a recumbent lion and unicorn, bearing festoons. The plinth terminates in pedestals ornamented with rosettes, and bearing statuary. Beyond this there is a drum ornamented with festoons, rosettes, and a band of fluting, and surmounted by a stepped, ribbed dome supporting statuary. The portico is flanked by three-bay, balustraded links, with balustraded, semi-circular-headed windows, set behind Corinthian screens, at the first-storey level. Above the windows there is a fluted string course, panels ornamented with half putti and arabesques, and a frieze of swags and rosettes. The building terminates in three-storey, three-bay pavilions. At the first-storey level there are balustraded, tripartite windows, set with Corinthian screens, and within relieving arches, and flanked by giant Corinthian pilasters. Above this there are friezes of fluting and rosettes. The pavilions are surmounted by plinths, with friezes of swags and rosettes, and central panels containing lions, unicorns and arabesques. The plinths are surmounted by lyres, flanked by reclining figures bearing musical instruments, and recumbent sphinxes