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[17] Imaginative reconstruction drawing of design for a Triumphal Bridge, design not submitted to the Parma Academy, 1779-80
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- Sir John Soane office drawings: the drawings of Sir John Soane and the office of Sir John Soane
Reference number
SM 12/5/6
Purpose
[17] Imaginative reconstruction drawing of design for a Triumphal Bridge, design not submitted to the Parma Academy, 1779-80
Aspect
Perspective drawn from a low riverside viewpoint of a design for a triumphal bridge with 7 arches and simple river stairs. It has an uninterrupted parapet (except for some statues) and the central dome is minimized while the staccato rhythm of fluted Greek Doric columns (2424248424242) set between antae is emphasised
Medium and dimensions
Pen, burnt umber, blue, pink, green and sepia washes, watercolour technique, shaded, within triple ruled and sepia wash border on wove paper (634 x 971)
Hand
J.M.Gandy (1771-1843)
Watermark
1794 J Whatman
Notes
Between May and June 1799 the office Day Book includes the following entries by Gandy: 'Perspective view of a Bridge' (between 18 May and 4 June, 16 working days, SM 12/5/5); 'Abt Bridge' (between 5 and 8 June, 4 working days, the drawing shown here) and (from 10 June to 19 July, 17 working days and definitely SM P258) 'Perspective View of a Triumphal Bridge'. Thus it is assumed that SM 12/5/5, this drawing and SM P258 were made in that period and in that sequence.
Though four days seems insufficient time for this drawing ('Abt Bridge), it is the least complicated since it mostly shows one side of the bridge to the river. With its severe, 'stripped' Doric monumentality, lit by a softly luminous sunset and with a violet-shadowed river, it is also the most arresting of the two perspectives.
The design (rejected by Soane for submission to the Parma Academy) was based on drawings of which only the plan (SM 45/1/34) now survives. While SM 45/1/34 closely follows the simpler scheme A of George Dance's plan (6a, left-hand side), neither of the alternative elevations, A1 or A2, are readily seen in Gandy's perspective though A2 (right-hand side) has a rather severe colonnade. Soane exhibited a 'Design for a triumphal bridge, for which the diploma of the Academy of Parma was given' (SM P352, q.v.) and 'Design for a triumphal bridge' (SM 12/5/7, q.v.) at the Royal Academy in 1799. However, the annual exhibition was always opened on 23 April which rules out the drawings catalogued here. The next time that Soane exhibited a 'Design for a triumphal bridge' at the R.A. was in 1806 and that was probably (the framed) SM P528.
Though four days seems insufficient time for this drawing ('Abt Bridge), it is the least complicated since it mostly shows one side of the bridge to the river. With its severe, 'stripped' Doric monumentality, lit by a softly luminous sunset and with a violet-shadowed river, it is also the most arresting of the two perspectives.
The design (rejected by Soane for submission to the Parma Academy) was based on drawings of which only the plan (SM 45/1/34) now survives. While SM 45/1/34 closely follows the simpler scheme A of George Dance's plan (6a, left-hand side), neither of the alternative elevations, A1 or A2, are readily seen in Gandy's perspective though A2 (right-hand side) has a rather severe colonnade. Soane exhibited a 'Design for a triumphal bridge, for which the diploma of the Academy of Parma was given' (SM P352, q.v.) and 'Design for a triumphal bridge' (SM 12/5/7, q.v.) at the Royal Academy in 1799. However, the annual exhibition was always opened on 23 April which rules out the drawings catalogued here. The next time that Soane exhibited a 'Design for a triumphal bridge' at the R.A. was in 1806 and that was probably (the framed) SM P528.
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