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[20] Finished perspective (relating to Stage IV) made by J.M.Gandy for exhibition at the Royal Academy, before 6 April 1816
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Reference number
SM 14/4/8
Purpose
[20] Finished perspective (relating to Stage IV) made by J.M.Gandy for exhibition at the Royal Academy, before 6 April 1816
Aspect
Elevated perspective from the north-west set in an imaginary wooded site with many poplar trees; two diminutive male figures (a man and a boy about 18 inches high by comparison with the gateway) gesture towards the monument. On the north-facing tablet is carved a skeleton (personifying Death) flinging an arrow at the north face of the aedicule while the western tablet bears a shield with Soane's coat of arms. The tympani of the pediments are embellished with foliage including pomegranates (symbols of Resurrection). This finished drawing differs from the rough preparatory drawing SM 63/7/31 by the omission of two piers with crocketed finials which flanked the gateway and represents the penultimate stage of design
Signed and dated
- datable to before 6 April 1816 see Notes below
Medium and dimensions
Pen, raw umber, sepia, blue and green washes, black ink wash, watercolour technique on wove paper with black wash border (667 x 970)
Hand
Joseph Michael Gandy (1771-1843)
Notes
The design shown in this finiished perspective was altered in execution by the omission of the entrance doorway and by the elaboration of the enclosing parapet wall. Details such as the skeleton with arrow, the pomegranates and Soane's coat of arms were not carried out. The effect of the drawing is that of the tomb discovered in a solitary, unvisited and heavily wooded spot in which self-seeded sapling trees and shrubs add to the air of tragic neglect. SM F83 (201) is very close to the executed design though, for example, the figures (of saints?) in the recessed dice close to the tomb were not carried out.
Soane's office Day Book has an entry for 4 April 1816: 'Altering drawing of Monument and Mounting Mr Gandy's' signed by Basevi and again on 5 April 'About drawings of Monument, sent afterwards to the Exhibition'. Soane's Note Book for 26 April 1816 has an entry 'Private View of Exhib: but I cannot go! Alas poor Eliza, you always went thither on this day!'.
Soane exhibited two drawings of the monument at the Royal Academy (R.A. exhibition Nos 799 and 810) and it is assumed that these were drawings SM 14/4/8 and SM F83 (201)
Soane's office Day Book has an entry for 4 April 1816: 'Altering drawing of Monument and Mounting Mr Gandy's' signed by Basevi and again on 5 April 'About drawings of Monument, sent afterwards to the Exhibition'. Soane's Note Book for 26 April 1816 has an entry 'Private View of Exhib: but I cannot go! Alas poor Eliza, you always went thither on this day!'.
Soane exhibited two drawings of the monument at the Royal Academy (R.A. exhibition Nos 799 and 810) and it is assumed that these were drawings SM 14/4/8 and SM F83 (201)
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