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Tracing of design
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Reference number
volume 42/64
Purpose
Tracing of design
Aspect
Details of chimney-piece with fluted, tapered pilasters and a central plaque with tazza and birds motif on the frieze; detail of base labelled a; details of pilaster (with leaf and dart enriched mouldings) to a larger scale
Scale
to a scale
Inscribed
as above, Chimney piece was / Library at Claremont and some dimensions given
Signed and dated
- datable to c. 1771-4
Medium and dimensions
Pen on tracing paper (102 x 198)
Hand
traced by Soane, Henry Holland office
Notes
'...the central urn motif is similar to the one that exists. However, the design exactly relates in every detail to a carved wood chimney-piece in one of the bedrooms on the first floor. Perhaps this was originally in the Library but was subsequently replaced by the much more elaborate carved marble one which is there now' (letter from Howard Farrar, Claremont Fan Court School, 23.7.01). A photograph made in 1945 (National Monuments Record CC47/2940) shows a chimney-piece in the library with anthemion and bell-flower drops that match the ornament of the bookcases. The chimney-piece has a central plaque on the frieze decorated with a pair of urns.
Another traced design (42/66) has a slightly different tazza and birds motif. Two pigeons lying on a dish can refer to Nicholas of Tolentino, a hermit who 'restored to life a dish of roast birds that were brought to him while he lay sick'. (K.Hall, Dictionary of subjects and symbols in art, 1974)
Another traced design (42/66) has a slightly different tazza and birds motif. Two pigeons lying on a dish can refer to Nicholas of Tolentino, a hermit who 'restored to life a dish of roast birds that were brought to him while he lay sick'. (K.Hall, Dictionary of subjects and symbols in art, 1974)
Level
Drawing
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