SM Adam volume 50/25

[38] Design for the great drawing room, 1779, as executed

Plan and laid-out wall-elevations of the great drawing room. The plan is of a room with apsidal ends, with a preliminary design (pencil) for a border of a ceiling or carpet. One wall-elevation contains four full-height windows surmounted by cornices, which are to the first design in Adam volume 52/78. Between the windows there are a pair of pier tables with turned feet, a bottom rail ornamented with fluting surmounted by an urn, a frieze of rosettes with a central tablet, and an apron of swags. These are surmounted by pier glass frames supporting socles which bear figurative roundels and draped figures with festoons, all surmounted by an urn. The third pier contains a preliminary design (pencil) for a girandole(?). Above, there is a frieze ornamented with pedestals bearing urns, alternating with rosettes and festoons, a further frieze (as Adam volume 53/39), and a band of dentils. The opposite wall-elevation contains a central chimneypiece with caryatid stiles, capitals containing rosettes, and a frieze with a central tablet depicting a figurative scene. This is surmounted by a tripartite mirror frame, with stiles formed from paired fluted columns, and a frieze of laurel leaf tips surmounted by a band of dentils. The frame's central compartment is formed with a semi-circular band forming an upper compartment ornamented with a rosette, and flanked by draped figures with festoons. Above this there is a socle supporting a two-branch candelabrum, flanked by swans. The chimneypiece is flanked by pilasters ornamented as Adam volume 49/6, with minor alterations, and stylised Ionic capitals ornamented with half-figures and arabesques. Beyond this there are relieving arches containing oval mirror frames, surmounted by tubular flowers, calyx and anthemia, flanked by draped figures bearing festoons. The frame has an apron consisting of a tablet ornamented with anthemia and semi-circular bands of beading, and surmounted by swans. One curved wall-elevation contains a mirror frame to the same designs as the overmantel mirror frame, with alterations. This is flanked by further pilasters and doors which are ornamented with painted panels, possibly as Adam volumes 24/78-79. The doorways are surmounted by cornices with a frieze of enclosed anthemia, and with overdoors containing painted scenes