Inscribed
Inscribed in ink on drawing 89
Signed and dated
- Undated, probably 1755 - 56
Medium and dimensions
Pen, pencil, grey and brown washes343 x 230, bottom left of drawing has what appears to be a rough repair
Hand
Robert Adam (attributed to)
Verso
Unfinished capriccio in pen and pencil showing a wall sarcophagus supported by two heads, which may be compared with several of Robert Adam's wall tombs, such as Adam vol.55/114 and 115.
Notes
The composition of a deep perspective to one side without any balancing interest is typical of Charles-Louis Clérisseau (see Charles-Louis Clérisseau (1721-1820) Dessins du musée de l'Ermitage Saint-Petersbourg, catalogue of an exhibition held at the Musée du Louvre, Paris, 1995, figs.52-54), although the pen drawing here is considerably bolder. Volume 56 also contains similar but tamer compositions by both Clérisseau and Robert Adam, and there is a view of this sort among the Adam drawings in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (see A. Rowan, Catalogues of Architectural Drawings in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Robert Adam, 1988, p.37, pl.9); it is possible that this may be the missing drawing from Adam vol.55/66.The rough repair to the bottom left of the drawing probably dates from the early nineteenth century when the volumes were being compiled and arranged.
Level
Drawing
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