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Finished drawings for the music room, 1775, as executed (4)
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Purpose
Finished drawings for the music room, 1775, as executed (4)
Notes
The music room is another extraordinary example of Adam’s work, and it is considered one of his finest designs. Hussey and Oswald note the ingenious sense of movement created within the space, with the use of a circular theme, reflected in the continuous circles applied to the ceiling design, the window and door apses with their semi-domes, and the suggestion of a semi-dome above the chimneypiece.
The use of mirrors within the space is significant, with Tait making comparison to the glass drawing room at Northumberland House. Here we again see the importance of light in a space intended for evening entertainment. The mirrored pilasters were designed combined with the appliqué candelabra ornaments in order to reflect the candle light. Unfortunately the mirrors do not survive and the pilasters were altered at a later date with their pedestals and ormolu ornamentation and candelabra removed.
Bolton notes drastic alteration to the window apses, with a later attempt to widen the space, and the chimneypiece does not survive. Harris notes the popingjays included in Adam’s design for the chimneypiece and their significance as heraldic emblems for the Home family.
The intended centrepiece of the music room was the organ, which Harris notes was designed with its painted cladding to form a fixture of the room. The organ does not survive. King notes that an organ was recorded here in the accounts of 1796-7. The accounts record that repairs to the organ included £6 -6s-0d for work on the inlay and varnishing. As a result King suggests this does not fit with the scheme of painted decoration shown in Adam’s variant designs, and therefore it might not have been executed. Harris, however, argues Adam’s execution of an organ which formed a fixture within the room is evident from the reproduction frieze inserted in its recess. She argues that as the instrument was an integral part of the overall design the wall behind the organ was left blank, and therefore the plasterwork required alteration when the organ was removed.
During the recent restoration, a two year project was undertaken to recreate the organ to one of the variant Adam designs, although the finished piece does not function as an instrument but as a drinks cabinet.
The use of mirrors within the space is significant, with Tait making comparison to the glass drawing room at Northumberland House. Here we again see the importance of light in a space intended for evening entertainment. The mirrored pilasters were designed combined with the appliqué candelabra ornaments in order to reflect the candle light. Unfortunately the mirrors do not survive and the pilasters were altered at a later date with their pedestals and ormolu ornamentation and candelabra removed.
Bolton notes drastic alteration to the window apses, with a later attempt to widen the space, and the chimneypiece does not survive. Harris notes the popingjays included in Adam’s design for the chimneypiece and their significance as heraldic emblems for the Home family.
The intended centrepiece of the music room was the organ, which Harris notes was designed with its painted cladding to form a fixture of the room. The organ does not survive. King notes that an organ was recorded here in the accounts of 1796-7. The accounts record that repairs to the organ included £6 -6s-0d for work on the inlay and varnishing. As a result King suggests this does not fit with the scheme of painted decoration shown in Adam’s variant designs, and therefore it might not have been executed. Harris, however, argues Adam’s execution of an organ which formed a fixture within the room is evident from the reproduction frieze inserted in its recess. She argues that as the instrument was an integral part of the overall design the wall behind the organ was left blank, and therefore the plasterwork required alteration when the organ was removed.
During the recent restoration, a two year project was undertaken to recreate the organ to one of the variant Adam designs, although the finished piece does not function as an instrument but as a drinks cabinet.
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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 Finished drawings for the music room, 1775, as executed (4)
- [26] Finished drawing for the north wall of the music room, 1775, as executed
- [27] Finished drawing for the east wall of the music room, 1775, as executed
- [28] Finished drawing for the south wall of the music room, 1775, as executed
- [29] Finished drawing for the west wall of the music room, 1775, as executed