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London: Parliament House (designs for). Unfinished design for part of an entrance elevation showing a panelled doorway, probably on a rusticated basement, with pilasters supporting a pediment and garlanded frieze. Above this are the lower parts of five framed panels.
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Reference number
Adam vol.7/93
Purpose
London: Parliament House (designs for). Unfinished design for part of an entrance elevation showing a panelled doorway, probably on a rusticated basement, with pilasters supporting a pediment and garlanded frieze. Above this are the lower parts of five framed panels.
Aspect
Elevation
verso detail
Inscribed
Inscribed in pencil in a contemporary hand with some calculations
verso inscribed in ink in a contemporary Italian hand Bisogna seguitar questo
Signed and dated
- Undated, probably 1762-63
Medium and dimensions
Pencil, pen
259 x 460
Hand
George Richardson (attributed to)
verso in a different hand
verso in a different hand
Verso
Unfinished design in pen over pencil for the rustication pattern for four Voussoirs arches. The hand here is unlike that on the recto.
Watermark
Fleur de lys over shield with bend
Notes
This drawing is probably for one of the basement entrances to James Adam's proposed Parliament House scheme of 1762/63, and can be related to the unfinished plan in Adam vol.7/78. The panelled doorway is that shown in detail in Adam vol.7/101. There is an alternative door with different panels in Adam vol.7/82. All may be derived from the bronze doors of the Pantheon, Rome; there were several studies of the Pantheon doors in the Albani Collection (see Campbell 2004, II, p.513).
The composition of a basement with projecting panels was described by James Adam in his unfinished essay on architectural theory of 1762: '... windows or niches so dressed I suppose in a principal floor over a rustic basement and raised from the cape or cornice of the basement by pedestals, the base and cornice of which may run along this part of the building or no, as is the most pleasing to the eye.' (see J. Fleming, Robert Adam and His Circle in Edinburgh and Rome, London, 1962, p.319). This entrance elevation is perhaps the best indication of the character that Adam intended for his Parliament building and is considerably more sophisticated and classical than the sketch elevation of 1760 shown in Adam vol.7/4.
The composition of a basement with projecting panels was described by James Adam in his unfinished essay on architectural theory of 1762: '... windows or niches so dressed I suppose in a principal floor over a rustic basement and raised from the cape or cornice of the basement by pedestals, the base and cornice of which may run along this part of the building or no, as is the most pleasing to the eye.' (see J. Fleming, Robert Adam and His Circle in Edinburgh and Rome, London, 1962, p.319). This entrance elevation is perhaps the best indication of the character that Adam intended for his Parliament building and is considerably more sophisticated and classical than the sketch elevation of 1760 shown in Adam vol.7/4.
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