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Preliminary design for the south wall
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Reference number
SM volume 42/123 recto and verso
Purpose
Preliminary design for the south wall
Aspect
Perspectival elevation (with part-plan and sketchy indication of ceiling treatment) showing alternative designs for windows:one with a Gothic four-centred arch and spandrels and the other with Gothic tabernacle work and between the windows, an alcove with a lancet arch; (verso) rough detail of spandrel
Inscribed
(verso) some dimensions and calculations given
Signed and dated
- datable to c. 1806
Medium and dimensions
Sepia, light red and blue washes, pencil (verso) pen on laid paper (292 x 215)
Hand
Soane
Notes
The library at Stowe was the only instance of Soane's use of Gothic for a domestic interior. The first dated designs were made in January 1805 and the library with its vestibule and staircase to the floor above was completed in the following year. McCarthy dates the drawing catalogued here to about 1806 and comments that 'it is rather a surprise to find at this date the decoration of the south or window wall of the room had not yet been decided upon.' (op.cit., p.141) As executed, the alcoves for statues were omited and dummy bookcase fronts were placed between the three windows which more or less relate to the left-hand design though with trefoil-arched heads, and with glazed rather than solid bottom panels.
See SM 33/3/B1-61 for designs for the library at Stowe and see also Concise Catalogue
See SM 33/3/B1-61 for designs for the library at Stowe and see also Concise Catalogue
Literature
M. McCarthy, 'Soane's "Saxon" Room at Stowe', Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, XLIV, No.2, 1985, pp.129-46; D.Stroud, Sir John Soane, architect, 2nd ed., 1996, pp.191-3
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