Dulwich College

• Lincolns Inn Fields / July 22 1811

Pen and coloured washes, watercolour technique, shaded, within a five-ruled pen and sepia and black wash border on wove paper (302 x 445)

Pupil (George Bailey, George Allen Underwood, George Basevi and John Buxton recorded drawing views of Dulwich in the Day Book entry for 22 July 1811)

This drawing along with SM 65/4/25, SM 65/4/27 and SM 15/2/2 are the first to show the alternative designs for the exterior of the Mausoleum; on plan as a cruciform projection with three false doors, one on each exposed side, crowned by scrolled acroterion. Above the burial chamber is the lantern. There are variations in the decoration of the Mausoleum, such as the position of the cinerary urns and the size of the canopy dome of the lantern. The dome is crowned by a stele, used in Greek architecture to mark a grave, which contributes further to the sepulchral atmosphere of the monument. In the top left hand corner of this drawing there is a rough pencil drawing, in Soane's hand, for an urn. These drawings demonstrate that the Mausoleum has become a principal feature of the new wing. The lantern towers above the height of the Gallery.

SM 65/4/25 is a preparatory perspective for the presentation views of this drawing, SM 65/4/27 and SM 15/2/2. It is a sketch design, drawn by Soane, which he then would have explained before handing the drawing over to a pupil to draw up to scale as a finished design.

SM 15/2/2 was possibly exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1812 (RA No. 810). It was titled 'Design for a Mausoleum to the memory of Sir F. Bourgeois, and a Gallery for the reception of his collection of pictures bequeathed to Dulwich College' (A. Graves, The Royal Academy of Arts: a complete dictionary of contributors and their work, from its foundation in 1769 to 1904, 1970, pp. 201). Although it is close to this drawing, SM 65/4/25 and SM 65/4/27 from July 1811, it is possible that this perspective was drawn at a later date in 1812 for exhibition to illustrate an attractive design. It is drawn on a smaller sheet of paper and then mounted onto a larger sheet as a border for presentation. It was drawn by Joseph Michael Gandy, who was an assistant in the office from 1798 to 1801 and then he became an architectural perspective draughtsman and colourist until 1830. Soane does record in his note book entry for 12 October 1812 'Mr Gandy sent me a draw'g of D. Gall: as a present'.

These views also include the arcade seen in the previous plans, SM 65/4/62, SM 15/1/1 and SM 15/1/2, as a series of unadorned aches running along the east front.

F. Nevola, Soane's favourite subject: the story of Dulwich Picture Gallery, 2000, pp. 51 & 182-183

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