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  • image SM Adam volume 10/101

Reference number

SM Adam volume 10/101

Purpose

[5] Preliminary design for the Haymarket (east) front, c1789, unexecuted

Aspect

Elevation of a four-storey building, formed with several blocks, with a three-bay, raised, pedimented portico, alternatively shown as single- and double-storey in height, and accessed by paired dog-legged staircases. The portico is surmounted by a stepped, ribbed dome with a turret and spire. All this is flanked by three-bay links, with semi-circular-headed windows at the first-storey level, surmounted by ornamental panels, and with half-height windows in the upper register. Beyond this there are three-storey, single-bay, pedimented pavilions, with balustraded Venetian windows at the first storey-level. The spandrels are set with roundels, and there is a tripartite window above, and all this is flanked by giant columns. To the left-hand-side of all this, there is a four-storey, five-bay block, with a broken pediment, which supports a central statuary group. At the ground-storey level there are entrances and paired, curved staircases providing access to the first-storey level, with its balustraded, semi-circular-headed entrances set behind a columnar screen. At the second-storey level the central three bays are balustraded, and this is surmounted by a further balustrade. Within the tympanum is a tripartite, semi-circular-headed window, and this is flanked by plinths supporting reclining statuary. Beyond this there is a further single-bay, pedimented pavilion as above, but with rustication at the ground-storey level, and a string course of rope moulding

Scale

to a scale

Inscribed

present height 4.2 / street to [_ _ _ _ _ _] 2.0 (in pencil) / stage to be raised 3.0 / 9 – 2 / pencil inscription bottom right cropped

Signed and dated

  • c1789
    c1789

Medium and dimensions

Pencil on laid paper (484 x 302)

Hand

Probably
Robert Adam

Literature

Bolton, 1922, Volume II, Index p. 40
Sheppard, 1960, Volume XXIX, (i), p. 249
For a full list of literature references see scheme notes.

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