with bar scale (illegible)

The BANQUETTING HOUSE at Whitehall

• datable to 1772

Pen and sepia washes within ruled and wash border on laid paper backed with wove paper (577 x 800)

Robert Baldwin (fl.1762 - c.1804)

When the drawing was framed and hung in the No. 12 Breakfast Room, Helen Dorey catalogued the drawing. She noted the following inscriptions: recto: 52 Lectr 3, No. 3 Lect 1 / 3 Lecture 2 (pencil, top l.h.corner) (Soane period) verso: numbered 73 Whitehall / Inigo Jones / Measured drawing John Soane R.A / silver medal 1772 / Students Room / Drawer 43 No. 14 / I.D. p.22 (lower l.h. corner) (Bolton's hand) Helen Dorey's catalogue entry is filed in Green Boxes information file in library under Soane B

J Whatman (laid paper)

Soane's measured drawing of part of the south front of Old Somerset House (q.v.) submitted for the Royal Academy's Silver Medal competition of 1771 had been handed in one day too late. The following year, he tried again with this measured drawing of the Banqueting House (designed by Inigo Jones, 1619-22) and with only two students competing for two Silver Medals, both were successful; John Rudd's drawing is in the Drawings Collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects [PA28/8(1-2)]. Because the building was scaffolded in preparation for the refacing of the Oxfordshire stone of the basement, the work of measuring was made much easier for Soane and Rudd.

The inscribed title to the drawing is striking and not in Soane's hand. It has been attributed, with the drawing, to Robert Baldwin who was an architect, draughtsman and (significantly) engraver.

In 1829, Soane carried out a survey of the external stonework of the Banqueting House, and restoration followed, 1829-32. A letter (SM XII.E 13, 2 July 1829, from Craib, the Clerk of Works, to Soane) states that 'after minute examination' the Northamptonshire stone of the upper storeys is beyond saving, and the only option is to ashlar the front in Portland stone. Soane was also to replicate the rear facade and he replaced the original windows with modern sashes. (Letter, 22.6.2004, SM information file).

This drawing was used for Soane's Royal Academy lectures III (drawing 47) and X (drawing 33). Other drawings of the Banqueting House were made specifically for the R.A. lecture series by Soane's office (SM 16/2/1, SM 16/2/2, SM 16/2/3; SM 74/2/3, SM 74/2/4, SM 74/2/5, SM 74/2/6, SM 74/2/7)

See also Survey drawings in the Soane Museum dated 28 February 1829 (SM 36/3/11 and SM 36/3/12) and Details of sash frames dated 14 May 1831 (SM 36/3/10) and 'Truss for New roof to Whitehall Chapel' (SM 37/2/12) and Model of roof truss (M1216)

Jill Lever

Previously framed as P242. Unframed in 1948. Then framed again in 1994 and hanging in the Breakfast Room, 12 Lincoln's Inn Fields.

P. du Prey, John Soane's architectural education 1753-80, 1977, pp.66-7
P. du Prey, John Soane: the making of an architect, 1982, pp. 72-4

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