Explore Collections
You are here:
CollectionsOnline
/
Capriccio showing a seven-bay elevation composed as a five-bay recessed portico on steps with sculpture figures in niches on either side. Above is a rectangular relief panel, grotesque decoration and a pediment with sculpture. Below on the sheet is part of a section through a coffered, domed hall of five bays.
Browse
Reference number
Adam vol.55/173
Purpose
Capriccio showing a seven-bay elevation composed as a five-bay recessed portico on steps with sculpture figures in niches on either side. Above is a rectangular relief panel, grotesque decoration and a pediment with sculpture. Below on the sheet is part of a section through a coffered, domed hall of five bays.
Aspect
Elevation, section
verso plans
Inscribed
Inscribed in ink on drawing 173
verso inscribed in ink in a contemporary hand (annotated on drawing, from top): chambre pour /La Te et la Jeus/ Endroit pour les/ Fruits et des ju[?] les/ musique/ Chambres a/ jouer il au [?] / Desau le cuisine / Directeur de Concert / Grand / niche a / jouer ou - [?] / d'allondre les / Dances / Chambre de / Danse / Fruit. En bas et / Musique en haut / Salle interiure / Salle enterieure / orchestre / Salle du / Musique / Chambres / du Livres / de / Musique
Signed and dated
- Undated, probably 1755 - 56
Medium and dimensions
Pencil, pen
205 x 255
Hand
Robert Adam
Verso
Capriccio in pencil and pen showing the plan for a building with five-bay apsidal portico with projecting three-bay wings. The interior is divided into three large halls, that are identified (see inscription) with a staircase in the centre approached through columns. This plan is for some kind of music pavilion, for which Adam vol.55/179 verso may be a preliminary scheme; a similar composition is used on a grander scale for Robert Adam's 'Plan of an Opera house for an isolated/Situation' (see Adam vol.10/166). This drawing overlays a similar plan. Beside this is a detail of part of a plan of columns and niches.
The French titles would suggest the influence of either Laurent-Benoít Dewez (1731-1812) or Charles-Louis Clérisseau (1721-1820).
Watermark
fleur de lys in circle (trimmed)
Notes
The hatched style of draughtsmanship in this elevation is similar to several others in this volume and can most closely be compared with the unfinished elevation in Adam vol.55/138 verso. The small section in pencil probably shows the interior of one of the halls in the pavilion on the verso.
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