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Royal College of Surgeons, 41-42 (now 35-43) Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, Camden, London, 1805-12 (with James Lewis)
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Reference number
SM D5/4/24
Purpose
Royal College of Surgeons, 41-42 (now 35-43) Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, Camden, London, 1805-12 (with James Lewis)
Aspect
[109] Mouldings full size, for the Front Wall, Lincolns Inn Fields
Scale
FS
Inscribed
as above, Royal College of Surgeons, No 1, lettered A-D, labelled Cornice, Part of Blocking, Parkers Cement (four times), The Letters refer to the Drawing of the Front No 1 and (verso, Dane) Royal College of Surgeons / Moldings of Front above the Portico
Signed and dated
- 1805-12
Medium and dimensions
Pen, raw umber, pink, green earth washes, pencil, partly pricked for transfer on laid paper (1020 x 660)
Hand
Dance
Watermark
D & C Blauw IV and D&CBxX in cartouche surmounted by fleur-de-lis
Notes
There is no 'Drawing of the Front No1' among Dance's drawings in the Soane Museum. Dance uses a pale green wash to distinguish the 'Parkers Cement' used to render the front elevation. A light brown wash distinguishes the stone mouldings, and pink the brickwork.
'Parker's cement, also called Roman and Sheppey cement, was discovered in 1796 by Mr James Parker, of Northfleet'. Made principally from a limestone found on the Isle of Sheppey and at Harwich, it was found in about 1810-15 that it could used during the winter months but by 1840 the source had run out and it was no longer used. 'The cement itself is a fine impalpable powder; yet when wetted it becomes coarse, and, unless mixed with great care it will not make a good surface. When mixed with the sand and water, it sets very rapidly; it is necessary therefore, to avoid mixing much at a time, or a portion will be lost. The colour of this cement, when finished, is an unpleasant dark brown.... The surface requires frequent colouring for appearance. It is impervious to water almost the moment it is used...' (J. Gwilt, Encyclopaedia of architecture, 1899).
'Parker's cement, also called Roman and Sheppey cement, was discovered in 1796 by Mr James Parker, of Northfleet'. Made principally from a limestone found on the Isle of Sheppey and at Harwich, it was found in about 1810-15 that it could used during the winter months but by 1840 the source had run out and it was no longer used. 'The cement itself is a fine impalpable powder; yet when wetted it becomes coarse, and, unless mixed with great care it will not make a good surface. When mixed with the sand and water, it sets very rapidly; it is necessary therefore, to avoid mixing much at a time, or a portion will be lost. The colour of this cement, when finished, is an unpleasant dark brown.... The surface requires frequent colouring for appearance. It is impervious to water almost the moment it is used...' (J. Gwilt, Encyclopaedia of architecture, 1899).
Level
Drawing
If you have any further information about this object, please contact us: drawings@soane.org.uk