(verso, pencil) 8^th Lecture 1820 / 6^th Lecture 1817 / 12^th Lecture / N^o 34

• datable to 1799

J. M. Gandy (1771-1843) and additions by A. van Assen

This drawing is an exaggerated view of the Consols Transfer Office. It shows more elaborate decorative features such as winged figures in the spandrels of the central dome. Figures of investors and clerks are also shown to demonstrate a dramatic scale. These figures were added by Antonio van Assen (exhibited at the Royal Academy 1778-1804), an artist and engraver. The drawing was used as an illustration in Soane's sixth Royal Academy lecture from the first series discussing arches and ornamentation on 16 January 1812. However it seems that the drawing would have been initially prepared for exhibition at the Royal Academy because it is so finely drawn and the addition of figures by the other hand of van Assen suggests a high quality not suitable for a lecture. The drawing was most probably then de-selected for exhibition and later used as a lecture drawing. The view is a copy of SM volume 75/93, which is dated 16 May 1799 and is by the same hand of Gandy, and as Soane did not begin his Royal Academy lectures until 1809 this further suggests that the drawing was drawn at an earlier date and was not intended as a lecture drawing.

The views also reveal the layout of desks and counters within the office. This distinguishes between the public and working areas.

There is also an interior perspective of the hall in the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A 3307.130). There is another view in the Drawings Collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects (see J. Harris, J. Lever, M. Richardson (eds.), Great drawings from the Collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects, p. 68, ill. 29). This drawing is signed John Soane Archt 1799 and dated Sepr 2 1800. It was probably drawn after the completion of the design in 1799 and for exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1800. Both these views show a slightly different design to the other presentation drawings with alternative stoves and the latter shows additional windows in the north wall.

A. T. Bolton, The Works of Sir John Soane, 1924, p. 42
D. Dunster & F. Russel (eds), 'The Bank of England', in architectural monographs: John Soane, 1983, p. 72
E. Schumann-Bacia, John Soane and the Bank of England, 1991, p. 70
M. Richardson & M. Stevens (eds), John Soane architect: master of space and light, Royal Academy of Arts, 1999, pp. 237-239
F. Sands, Fanciful Figures: people in architectural drawings, 2024, pp. 40-41
C. Woodward, Buildings in progress: Soane's views of construction, an exhibition catalogue for the Soane Gallery, 1995, pp. 11 & 18

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