Pen, pencil, hatching (230 x 185)

previously attributed to John Flaxman, re-attributed to George Dance (1741-1825)

presently stuck down and not visible

This design and SM volume 42/88 both show the central part of a gigantic mausoleum on a segmental plan with a deep, round-arched entrance approached by a long and wide flight of stairs. The walls and openings are decorated with huge urns and sculpture that dwarf the tiny mourners. Interestingly, this drawing shows two colonnaded storeys of equal height above a base, that is, a three-storey building with presumably dome and drum. Soane's final designs are for a three-storey mausoleum. SM volume 42/88 has striking bracketed pedestals for sculpture and Greek Doric is used for both designs. du Prey attributed this drawing to John Flaxman but here it has been re-attributed to George Dance; SM volume 42/88 is by the same hand. The stylish skeleton figures of Death, and of Winged Victory, as well as the draughtsmanship and the dramatic expressiveness of the design do suggest George Dance. In any case, the hand is certainly not Soane's for as Margaret Richardson (February 2008) commented: 'the sketches are very three-dimensional (which Soane's tend not to be)'.

P. du Prey, John Soane’s architectural education 1753-80, 1977, p.98
P. du Prey, John Soane: the making of an architect, 1982, p.345 fn.43

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