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[2] Study design for the central pavilion of the south (Privy Garden) range, for the king's apartments, nearly as executed
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Reference number
SM, volume 110/15
Purpose
[2] Study design for the central pavilion of the south (Privy Garden) range, for the king's apartments, nearly as executed
Aspect
Half-elevation, with part-plan of the facade and sections of the floor structure
Scale
5 feet to 1 inch
Inscribed
In ink by Hawksmoor at top left, Scale 5ft in 1 inch -- ; and above in ink by Dance, Gd; and to right in C19 hand, (15)
Signed and dated
- Undated, but datable mid-1689
Medium and dimensions
Pen and brown ink over graphite and incised lines Laid paper, laid down, with staining over bottom left-hand corner 359 x 200
Hand
Hawksmoor
Watermark
Strasbourg Lily / 4WR
Notes
Several details of this study design for the central pavilion of the Privy Garden front were modified in execution. Pediments were added to the flanking windows, the main cornice was given modillions and the oval windows were set slightly lower. Some of these revisions appear on the presentation drawing of the complete elevation (5, below; 110/10).
In the fabric, the columns of the main order were increased in height from 22 feet to about 23 feet 2 inches, mainly by enlarging the height of the plinths of the bases. The entablature remained at 5 feet, giving an overall height for the order of 28 feet 2 inches, compared with 27 feet here. The corresponding dimension on the equivalent detailed design for the centre of the east front is 28 feet 1 inch (4, below; 110/12). The attic was increased in the fabric by a few inches – presumably to remain consistent with the order below. Thus the elevation as a whole, from the ground to the top of the cornice below the balustrade, grew by nearly 1½ feet, from 54 feet 1 inch on this drawing to 56 feet 6 inches in the fabric. The latter dimension is the height of the park front on Hawksmoor’s detailed part-elevation, 110/12.
The drawing reveals the relationship between the floor structure and the elevation. The lower face of the floor structure is 6 inches above the tops of the ground floor openings, or 11 feet 10 inches above the ground. This compares with 11 feet 4 inches on 110/8 (section 4, 1). Allowing 1 foot for the depth of the floor, the overall height of the ground floor is now 12 feet 10 inches. This is 8 inches less than the executed height of 13 feet 6 inches (see Thurley, 2003, pl. 148).
In the fabric, the columns of the main order were increased in height from 22 feet to about 23 feet 2 inches, mainly by enlarging the height of the plinths of the bases. The entablature remained at 5 feet, giving an overall height for the order of 28 feet 2 inches, compared with 27 feet here. The corresponding dimension on the equivalent detailed design for the centre of the east front is 28 feet 1 inch (4, below; 110/12). The attic was increased in the fabric by a few inches – presumably to remain consistent with the order below. Thus the elevation as a whole, from the ground to the top of the cornice below the balustrade, grew by nearly 1½ feet, from 54 feet 1 inch on this drawing to 56 feet 6 inches in the fabric. The latter dimension is the height of the park front on Hawksmoor’s detailed part-elevation, 110/12.
The drawing reveals the relationship between the floor structure and the elevation. The lower face of the floor structure is 6 inches above the tops of the ground floor openings, or 11 feet 10 inches above the ground. This compares with 11 feet 4 inches on 110/8 (section 4, 1). Allowing 1 foot for the depth of the floor, the overall height of the ground floor is now 12 feet 10 inches. This is 8 inches less than the executed height of 13 feet 6 inches (see Thurley, 2003, pl. 148).
Literature
Wren Society, IV, pl. 19, bottom
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