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[62] Finished drawing for Lady Williams-Wynn’s dressing room, c1773, as executed
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Reference number
SM Adam volume 40/70
Purpose
[62] Finished drawing for Lady Williams-Wynn’s dressing room, c1773, as executed
Aspect
Plan and laid-out wall-elevations of a three-by-two-bay room. One elevation comprises of a Venetian window formed with Ionic pilasters, and with friezes of rosettes and festoons. Set within the window there is an oval mirror frame surmounted by a shell and flanked by half putti. The window is flanked by pedestals supporting double branch candelabra, with mirror frames set behind. The mirror frames are ornamented with drop calyx, festoons, and wreaths of calyx, and are surmounted by arabesques supporting anthemia. The window is set within a reliving arch, has a curved cornice bearing a central urn, and is ornamented with calyx pinnacles. Above the cornice there are festoons which suspend cameos. The Venetian window is flanked by Doric pilasters with capitals containing rosettes, and beyond this there is a door and a further window, with semi-circular panels set above. The panels contain urns flanked by draped figures, and above this there are further panels containing rosettes and swags.
The opposite elevation comprises of a central chimneypiece with Ionic stiles and a frieze of swags, with a central tablet containing a figurative oval. The chimneypiece is surmounted by an overmantel mirror frame, with tapering term stiles linked by festoons. The frame is surmounted by a semi-circular-headed compartment, ornamented with enclosed calyx, anthemia, and rosettes, and this supports a central urn flanked by calyx pinnacles, reclining winged figures, and arabesques supporting tubular flowers. The chimneypiece is flanked by ornamental panels containing roundels suspended by ribbons, and beyond this there is a pair of sofas with tapering legs and backs ornamented with scroll work surmounted by shells. The sofas are set within reliving arches ornamented with panels containing arabesques and figurative tablets. The tablets support cameos set within wreaths and are flanked by winged griffins. Above the cameos there are arabesques supporting urns, which suspend further figurative tablets. All this is set within a reliving arch ornamented with festoons, which suspend cameos. Beyond the reliving arch there are doorways ornamented with oval mirrors and panels containing rosettes, swags, and arabesques. The semi-circular overdoors contain urns flanked by winged figures, and above this there are panels containing rosettes and swags.
The elevation to the right forms an apse and comprises of a central sofa, with a semi-circular headed mirror frame behind. The stiles and head of the frame are ornamented with rosette roundels and calyx, and there is an apron of arabesques, a lozenge, calyx festoons, and a suspended urn. The mirror frame is flanked by doorways with semi-circular overdoors ornamented with a fan, embellished with a part-patera, anthemia and rosettes. Above all this there are rosette roundels and panels containing rosettes and swags. The head of the apse is ornamented with festoons which suspend cameos and a central figurative tablet.
The left-hand elevation forms an apse and comprises of a central doorway with a semi-circular overdoor in the form of a fan. The door is flanked by a pair of sofas set within reliving arches containing ornamental panels. Above all this there are rosette roundels, and panels containing rosettes and swags. The head of the apse is ornamented with festoons suspending cameos, and a figurative tablet surrounded by arabesques
The opposite elevation comprises of a central chimneypiece with Ionic stiles and a frieze of swags, with a central tablet containing a figurative oval. The chimneypiece is surmounted by an overmantel mirror frame, with tapering term stiles linked by festoons. The frame is surmounted by a semi-circular-headed compartment, ornamented with enclosed calyx, anthemia, and rosettes, and this supports a central urn flanked by calyx pinnacles, reclining winged figures, and arabesques supporting tubular flowers. The chimneypiece is flanked by ornamental panels containing roundels suspended by ribbons, and beyond this there is a pair of sofas with tapering legs and backs ornamented with scroll work surmounted by shells. The sofas are set within reliving arches ornamented with panels containing arabesques and figurative tablets. The tablets support cameos set within wreaths and are flanked by winged griffins. Above the cameos there are arabesques supporting urns, which suspend further figurative tablets. All this is set within a reliving arch ornamented with festoons, which suspend cameos. Beyond the reliving arch there are doorways ornamented with oval mirrors and panels containing rosettes, swags, and arabesques. The semi-circular overdoors contain urns flanked by winged figures, and above this there are panels containing rosettes and swags.
The elevation to the right forms an apse and comprises of a central sofa, with a semi-circular headed mirror frame behind. The stiles and head of the frame are ornamented with rosette roundels and calyx, and there is an apron of arabesques, a lozenge, calyx festoons, and a suspended urn. The mirror frame is flanked by doorways with semi-circular overdoors ornamented with a fan, embellished with a part-patera, anthemia and rosettes. Above all this there are rosette roundels and panels containing rosettes and swags. The head of the apse is ornamented with festoons which suspend cameos and a central figurative tablet.
The left-hand elevation forms an apse and comprises of a central doorway with a semi-circular overdoor in the form of a fan. The door is flanked by a pair of sofas set within reliving arches containing ornamental panels. Above all this there are rosette roundels, and panels containing rosettes and swags. The head of the apse is ornamented with festoons suspending cameos, and a figurative tablet surrounded by arabesques
Scale
bar scale of 4 inches to 10 feet
Inscribed
Section of Lady Williams Wynns Room / St James’s Square (all in the hand of William Adam) / Section of Lady Williams Wynnes Dressg Room (pencil) / Friez (sic) D.Green Pannells (pencil) / D. Pink margin(?) (pencil) / D. Green Scroll (?) over pannells (pencil) / White dado (pencil) / D Green Plinth (pencil) / 80 (pencil)
Signed and dated
- c1773
c1773
Medium and dimensions
Pen, pencil, wash and coloured washes including pink, Indian yellow and cerulean blue within a single ruled border on laid paper (935 x 653)
Hand
Possibly
Office hand, possibly William Hamilton or Joseph Bonomi, with title inscription in the hand of William Adam
Office hand, possibly William Hamilton or Joseph Bonomi, with title inscription in the hand of William Adam
Literature
Bolton, 1922, Volume II, Index p. 49
King, 2001, Volume I, p. 277
For a full list of literature references see scheme notes.
King, 2001, Volume I, p. 277
For a full list of literature references see scheme notes.
Level
Drawing
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Sir John Soane's collection includes some 30,000 architectural, design and topographical drawings which is a very important resource for scholars worldwide. His was the first architect’s collection to attempt to preserve the best in design for the architectural profession in the future, and it did so by assembling as exemplars surviving drawings by great Renaissance masters and by the leading architects in Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries and his near contemporaries such as Sir William Chambers, Robert Adam and George Dance the Younger. These drawings sit side by side with 9,000 drawings in Soane’s own hand or those of the pupils in his office, covering his early work as a student, his time in Italy and the drawings produced in the course of his architectural practice from 1780 until the 1830s.
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