Explore Collections

You are here:
CollectionsOnline
/
[44] Design for a pilaster for the great drawing room, c1779, as executed
Browse
Reference number
SM Adam volume 49/6
Purpose
[44] Design for a pilaster for the great drawing room, c1779, as executed
Aspect
Elevation of an ornamental pilaster, with a central painted panel flanked by bands of beading, thyrsi, and lozenges enclosing arabesques and anthemia. The central panel is ornamented with a pedestal embellished with festoons suspending a pendent oil lamp, rosettes and ram masks, and this is surmounted by an urn. Above this, bands of calyx enclose an anthemion bearing a fountain ornamented with gadrooning and beading, and a cameo, depicting winged sphinxes, enclosed by arabesques. This is surmounted by a further cameo, depicting a draped figure, and a rosette, both enclosed within a figure-of-eight wreath of oak leaves. Above this a tubular flower supports further wreaths enclosing anthemia, and a roundel depicting winged putti. This is surmounted by an urn, ornamented with gadrooning, flanked by beading with suspended peltoid shields, and surmounted by arabesques, a tubular flower, and a draped figure bearing urns. Above this there are further arabesques and tubular flowers bearing an oil lamp which is ornamented with ram masks and swags and surmounted by an urn bearing drop calyx. Above this there are calyx, arabesques and anthemia, a rosette enclosed within a foil roundel, and a tubular flower surmounted by a tablet containing a rosette, enclosed within a lozenge, flanked by arabesques. The tablet has an apron of beading, suspending rosettes, and is surmounted by anthemia, arabesques and an Etruscan urn ornamented with draped figures
Scale
full size
Inscribed
Design of a Pilaster for Sir Abraham Hume (in the hand of William Adam, underwritten in pencil) / painting (pencil)
Signed and dated
- c1779
c1779
Medium and dimensions
Pen, pencil and coloured washes on laid paper including pink, sepia, verdigris, Indian yellow and cerulean blue on laid paper (312 x 3354)
Hand
Possibly
Office hand, possibly Joseph Bonomi or Robert Morison
Office hand, possibly Joseph Bonomi or Robert Morison
Verso
Sir Abraham Hume / preliminary plan (pencil)
Watermark
GR surmounted by a fleur-de-lis within a crowned cartouche, JWHATMAN
Literature
Bolton, 1917, p. 6
Bolton, 1922, Volume II, Index p. 41
King, 2001, Volume I, pp. 24, 304
For a full list of literature references see scheme notes.
Bolton, 1922, Volume II, Index p. 41
King, 2001, Volume I, pp. 24, 304
For a full list of literature references see scheme notes.
Level
Drawing
If you have any further information about this object, please contact us: drawings@soane.org.uk