Design with a reduced plan of John Henderson's rival scheme, 1778 (1)

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Sir John Soane office drawings: the drawings of Sir John Soane and the office of Sir John Soane
- Country houses, etc.
  - Downhill, County Derry, Northern Ireland: (unexecuted) summer dining room, alterations and additions for Frederick Hervey, Bishop of Derry and 4th Earl of Bristol, 1778-1780 (11)

Purpose

Design with a reduced plan of John Henderson's rival scheme, 1778 (1)

Notes

Early in 1778, the Bishop of Derry, then resident in Rome, let it be known among the architects of that city that he proposed adding a dining room to Downhill. John Henderson, a Scottish architect (died 1786) who was in Rome from c.1774 to 1779, was probably the first to present an acceptable design. Supplanted by Soane's scheme, a quarrel ensued in which Soane was accused by Henderson of plagiarism. This drawing may have been used as part of Soane's 'evidence'.

See drawing 11 for a further comparative drawing and notes.

Literature

P. du Prey, John Soane's architectural education 1753-80, 1977, pp.52-3; P. du Prey, John Soane: the making of an architect, 1982, p.114 (account of the quarrel)

Level

Group

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

Contents of Design with a reduced plan of John Henderson's rival scheme, 1778 (1)

[2] Design with a reduced plan of John Henderson's rival scheme, 1778