bar scale of 1/9 inch to 1 foot

as above, Arcade (twice), Skylight (five times), Picture Gallery, Mausoleum, (Soane, three times) Sarcoph., Vestibule, Porch (Soane, twice), Dulwich College, (written later in Soane's hand) This plan exh[ibite]^d on 12 July 1811 / & finally appr[ove]^d by the / Master / Mr Corri / Mr Douch / Mr Smith / Mr Jullian / Mr Druce / with the addition of an arcade / as shown in the general plan, the optimun length of the Gallery 144.6 (pencil, crossed out and corrected to) 152 out and out, (pencil) calcuations and (Soane) dimensions given

• Lincolns Inn Fields / 10 July 1811

Pen, pencil, sepia, rose pink and blue washes, partly pricked for transfer, within seven-ruled pen, sepia and black wash border on wove paper (333 x 518)

George Bailey (1792-1860, pupil and Soane office assistant 1806-1837, curator 1837-1860) or John Buxton (pupil 1809-1814) (both pupils recorded drawing plans for Dulwich in the Day Book entry for 10 July 1811) (2) pencil additions by Soane and (verso) Soane

The main difference between this plan and SM 65/4/33 when compraed to the previous plan (SM 65/4/37) is that the end bays of the almshouse extending to the west are wider and they are two storeys high, as can be seen by the addition of a staircase. The gallery rooms are a sequence of cubes and double cubes. Waterfield states 'the carefully proportioned shape... follows the Palladian tradition in British architecure' (Soane and After: The Architecture of Dulwich Picture Gallery, 1987, pp. 13). It is a symmetrical layout with the five central bays and projecting end bays on either side. This drawing includes two parallel entrances into porches for the almshouses, previously illustrated in the elevation of SM 65/4/20.

The plan here shows that as domestic spaces the almshouses are to be heated by fireplaces, as indicated by the niches in the wall. Whereas the Gallery was to be heated by a central steam heating system shown by flues embedded within the wall.

The dimensions of the Galleries were clearly discussed during the meeting judging by all the corrections made here in pencil. The dimensions written in ink are 18 feet by 22 feet, 40 feet by 21.9 feet, 20 feet by 6 inches square. These were crossed out in pencil and replaced with the two large galleries marked 40 feet by 20 feet and the middle and end galleries marked 20 feet by 9 inches square. These revised dimensions correspond exactly with those built. The optimum length is also adjusted from 144. 6 feet to 148.3 feet with an addition of 3.9 feet making the length 152 feet, which is just two feet short of the length of the Gallery built.

The plans are drawn from a different angle than the previous designs. All of the other drawings have been drawn as if viewed from College Road, whereas the Gallery is now drawn as if seen from Gallery Road. So north is to the left of the drawing rather than to the right.

F. Nevola, Soane's favourite subject: the story of Dulwich Picture Gallery, 2000, pp. 42 & 180

Drawing

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