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Theatre Royal, Beauford Square, Bath, 1804-5
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Reference number
SM D3/8/13
Purpose
Theatre Royal, Beauford Square, Bath, 1804-5
Aspect
[14] Plan showing a Rough sketch for the disposition / of the Pictures
Scale
1/8 in to 1 ft
Inscribed
as above and curtain
Signed and dated
- 1804-5
Medium and dimensions
Pen, crimson, yellow, lavender, blue and sepia washes, pencil, watercolour technique on laid paper, folded three times as though for posting (280 x 240)
Hand
Dance
Watermark
(illegible)
Notes
The stretched semicircular ceiling has a circular centre with fluted decoration surrounded by five panels with paintings and seven other panels, all linked by mouldings and roundels.
Dance's task was to incorporate five panels depicting the Arts and Sciences painted by Andrea Casali (1705-84) for the ceiling of the picture gallery at Fonthill Splendens, c.1757-70. They had been bought for 13 guineas at the 1801 auction of the contents of Splendens by Wyatt Dimond, joint proprietor of the Theatre Royal, Bath. The panels were removed from the Theatre in 1845 and installed in the ceiling of the Great Hall at Dyrham Park where they remain. In fact, the move was fortunate since the Theatre was gutted by fire in 1862.
REPRODUCED. C. Woodward, 'William Beckford and Fonthill Splendens, Apollo, XLVIII, 1998, fig.12.
Dance's task was to incorporate five panels depicting the Arts and Sciences painted by Andrea Casali (1705-84) for the ceiling of the picture gallery at Fonthill Splendens, c.1757-70. They had been bought for 13 guineas at the 1801 auction of the contents of Splendens by Wyatt Dimond, joint proprietor of the Theatre Royal, Bath. The panels were removed from the Theatre in 1845 and installed in the ceiling of the Great Hall at Dyrham Park where they remain. In fact, the move was fortunate since the Theatre was gutted by fire in 1862.
REPRODUCED. C. Woodward, 'William Beckford and Fonthill Splendens, Apollo, XLVIII, 1998, fig.12.
Level
Drawing
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