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[6] Preliminary design for a monument, with a sarcophagus and scrolled acroterion, 1815
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Drawing. SM 63/6/54. ©Sir John Soane's Museum, London. Photo: Ardon Bar-Hama
Reference number
SM 63/6/54
Purpose
[6] Preliminary design for a monument, with a sarcophagus and scrolled acroterion, 1815
Aspect
Elevation of design similar to verso of SM 63/6/51 and rough details of ornament
Scale
bar scale of 1 inch to 1 foot, approximately
Inscribed
(Bailey) Sketch of a Monumental Tablet to the memory of the Viscount Bridport
Signed and dated
- (Bailey) 1816 but datable to early 1815
Medium and dimensions
Pencil and pen on wove paper (335 x 527)
Hand
attributed to Soane, and titles added later by George Bailey (Soane Museum curator, 1837-60), inscriptions on versos by Robert Baldwin (fl.1762-c.1804)
Notes
The verso of this drawing shows developing designs for a monument in the form of a sarcophagus.
In a letter dated 14 May 1815, Lady Bridport thanked Soane for his recent letter enclosing a proposed design, 'which as a drawing I greatly admire, but I am not certain that when executed for the church, it would quite suit my ideas; indeed in this undertaking I wish to be entirely satisfied' (Priv. Corr. XIII.H.28). This drawing shows the design to which she refers. The sarcophagus is surmounted by a feature composed of two S-shaped scrolls, incorporating paterae and foliage and capped by a shell. The drawing has an escallop between the scrolls and an imaginative arrangement of naval trophies, including flags, cannons and clouds of gun smoke behind the stern of a battleship. The acroterion as capped with a palm leaf-ornament is included as a rough design in the margins of this drawing
The drawing shows an apron below the sarcphagus.
The date inscribed by George Bailey was added after the drawing was completed, probably when Bailey served as Soane Museum curator from 1837 to 1860, and in these cases Bailey's dates are inaccurate.
In a letter dated 14 May 1815, Lady Bridport thanked Soane for his recent letter enclosing a proposed design, 'which as a drawing I greatly admire, but I am not certain that when executed for the church, it would quite suit my ideas; indeed in this undertaking I wish to be entirely satisfied' (Priv. Corr. XIII.H.28). This drawing shows the design to which she refers. The sarcophagus is surmounted by a feature composed of two S-shaped scrolls, incorporating paterae and foliage and capped by a shell. The drawing has an escallop between the scrolls and an imaginative arrangement of naval trophies, including flags, cannons and clouds of gun smoke behind the stern of a battleship. The acroterion as capped with a palm leaf-ornament is included as a rough design in the margins of this drawing
The drawing shows an apron below the sarcphagus.
The date inscribed by George Bailey was added after the drawing was completed, probably when Bailey served as Soane Museum curator from 1837 to 1860, and in these cases Bailey's dates are inaccurate.
Level
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