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[294] Working drawing, New Law Courts, c 1823 - 1824
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Reference number
SM 69/7/1/r/a
Purpose
[294] Working drawing, New Law Courts, c 1823 - 1824
Aspect
Elevation of the pavillon tower and flanking range to The Stone Building, as executed, with preliminary revisions (in pencil)
Scale
to a scale
Signed and dated
- c 1823 - 1824
dated in accordance with known building campaign
Medium and dimensions
Pencil, pen, pricked for transfer on wove paper (337 x 117)
Hand
Soane Office
Notes
Contrary to Summerson's reading, and given the scale of this drawing, it is likely to represent Soane's design for completing The Stone Building's façade to St Margaret's Street as an integral part of the New Law Courts. Conversely, Summerson postulated this was a survey drawing (see note enclosed with this drawing). The model for this design was provided by the existing flanking range and pavilion tower, executed to John Vardy's design, and standing south of the building's central block between St Margaret's Street and Old Palace Yard. Revisions (in pencil) suggest raising the head of the arch, making it stilted, and increasing the size of the keystone so it breaks into the course above. While the former is characteristically Soanian, the latter motif echoes Vanbrugh. This ground-floor arch acted as the entrance to the Court of King's Bench.
Literature
Sawyer, 1999: p 539, footnote 1591
Level
Drawing
Digitisation of the Drawings Collection has been made possible through the generosity of the Leon Levy Foundation.
This catalogue of Soane’s designs for the New Law Courts was generously funded by The Worshipful Company of Mercers and The Pilgrim Trust.
If you have any further information about this object, please contact us: drawings@soane.org.uk