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  • image SM 2/8/12

Reference number

SM 2/8/12

Purpose

[21] Design for a five-bay front elevation

Aspect

Front elevation

Scale

bar scale of ¼ inch to 1 foot

Inscribed

Robert Dennistoun Esqre, Joist (twice), Sunk Floor, and a few vertical dimensions given

Signed and dated

  • 00/01/1799
    Copy Jany 1799

Medium and dimensions

Pen and sepia wash, shaded on wove paper (342 x 560)

Hand

Attributed to Henry Hake Seward (1778 - 1848)
Pupil and assistant May 1794 - September 1808. Nothing in the Soane office Day Book for January 1799.

Notes

The almost fifteen foot wide passageways to each side of the house may have seemed a waste of space to Soane. It did allow for accommodating useful services such as scullery, boots and knives room etc as well as a footpath to the garden behind the house. Borrowing only three feet from each side, a new five-bay design was made that would probably have had much the same plan but with more window to wall and a striking skyline finish of three plinths with Greek or Roman ornament, two in the form of a shallow urn or 'kylix' with drapery. The urns give sculptural relief to a front that apart from a dozen small discs appears as pleasingly severe.

Level

Drawing

Exhibition history

Alexander Thomson: The Unknown Genius, The Lighthouse, Glasgow, 25 June - 23 September 1999

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