Copy of measured drawing

Explore Collections

You are here: CollectionsOnline / Copy of measured drawing

Browse

Sir John Soane office drawings: the drawings of Sir John Soane and the office of Sir John Soane
- Soane's architectural education: Royal Academy and Italy including measured drawings: 1770-1780
  - Soane in Italy: measured drawings made or copied, 1778-80
    - Italy: Rome: Arch of Constantine

Use of images and copyright
Enlarge this Image

Print this image in A4 view

Reference number

SM 45/3/39

Purpose

Copy of measured drawing

Aspect

Elevation with the attic storey and details of the roundels drawn only in outline

Scale

bar scale of Roman palmi

Medium and dimensions

Pen, warm sepia and raw umber washes, shaded, pencil within a single ruled border on laid paper (637 x 957)

Hand

Soane

Watermark

J Whatman

Notes

There were easily obtained graphic sources for the Triumphal Arch of Constantine such as standard workshop sheets (there is one, drawn to a smaller scale (of Roman palmi) in Soane's collection, SM 44/8/4) or prints including those by Piranesi. The point of this copy of a measured drawing was probably to produce a striking record that (had time allowed) would have included the details of the roundels, so important to Soane in his later work. The brushed-in shadows give emphasis to the Corinthian order, suggesting its profile and adding drama. The scale is shown to be in Roman palmi when compared with other drawings.

The Arcus Constantini was erected in 315/6 A.D. on the triumphal route between the Circus Maximus and the Forum Romanum (L.Richardson jr, A New topographical dictionary of ancient Rome, Baltimore, 1992).

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