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[18] Unfinished design for the auditorium, c1789, unexecuted
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Reference number
SM Adam volume 47/6
Purpose
[18] Unfinished design for the auditorium, c1789, unexecuted
Aspect
Elevation of an auditorium showing the raked pit, Royal box and surrounding boxes. The boxes are arranged in four tiers. The first tier is ornamented with putti within wreaths of husks and anthemia, the second with enclosed anthemia and arabesques, the third with lunettes enclosing swags and musical instruments, which alternate with tridents flanked by sea creatures, and the fourth with anthemia and cameos set within beaded lozenges. The first tier has Corinthian columns ornamented with acanthus leaves, surmounted by Corinthian columns ornamented with encircling vines in the second tier. There are tapering herm pilasters in the third tier, surmounted by tapering pilasters ornamented with drop calyx in the fourth tier. Above all this there is a frieze of fret, with an apron of shields and festoons. The Royal box is positioned in the first tier and is shown with a bow front. To the left of the boxes there is an entrance surmounted by a niche with statuary and this is flanked by giant Corinthian pilasters, ornamented with arabesques and calyx. To the left of the entrance there are a pair of giant Corinthian fluted columns, with a frieze of fluting and rosettes. Beyond this there is a relieving arch, surmounted by a roundel containing a bust, and a frieze of festoons and instruments
Scale
bar scale of 2 inches to 5 feet
Inscribed
Elevation of part of the Boxes to a larger scale (in pencil)/ No 6 (in pencil) / faint pencil inscription
Signed and dated
- c1789
c1789
Medium and dimensions
Pen, pencil and coloured washes including Indian yellow, verdigris and pink on laid paper (677 x 516)
Hand
Possibly
Office hand, possibly Robert Morison or Daniel Robertson
Office hand, possibly Robert Morison or Daniel Robertson
Verso
Notation, modern curatorial hand
Watermark
JWHATMAN, fleur-de-lis within a crowned cartouche
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.
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