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[1] First design for a pavilion on the Bowling Green
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Reference number
SM, volume 110/28
Purpose
[1] First design for a pavilion on the Bowling Green
Aspect
West elevation and plan
Scale
10 feet to just under 1 inch
Inscribed
In graphite, probably by Dickinson, with dimensions on the plan: 40 - 0 across the hall, 20 across depth of flank room on left, and 12 across central room behind staircase; and in ink by Dance at top right, Gd; and to right in C19 hand, (28)
Signed and dated
- Undated, but datable 1700
Medium and dimensions
Pen and brown ink over graphite under-drawing with grey and pink washes, and with sketched additions in graphite; on laid paper, laid down, the whole sheet lightly discoloured in pinkish brown with some brown stain marks; 356 x 238
Hand
William Dickinson
Watermark
Strasbourg Lily / 4WR; same as 110/29
Notes
This initial design is in the same hand as 110/27 and 29. The convention of the scale bar is like that on Dickinson's drawing for the Hampton Court Chapel reredos (8/1; 111/66) and his plan at All Souls showing extensions to Kensington Palace, c.1703 (Geraghty 2007, 248; AS, I. 86). In a later stage in the design, at 2 (110/29, site plan) and 3 (110/27, elevation), the portico has steps, and the depth of the plan is increased by 4 feet from the 36-feet scaled dimension on this plan, to the 40-feet dimension marked in graphite across the central hall of this drawing.On the elevation, Dickinson has sketched, in graphite, an extension to the roof-top balcony on the right side of the roof. This would have created more head-room for the upper flight of stairs up to the balcony. On the left side of the plan this upper stage is marked as a spiral stair in the area of the pendentive of the oval ceiling. In this position, the final ascent to the roof would have be cramped and ill lit. The revision in the next design, 110/27, provided large half pediments either side of the central viewing platform. These created more head-room close to the platform and space for small oval attic windows, one of which would have lit the upper flight of the stairs.In the final scheme for the Bowling Green site, drawn by Hawksmoor, four small lodges with domical roofs replace the single pavilion with a roof-top platform (the domical roofs were changed to pyramidal in the executed pavilions; see Thurley 2003, fig. 181).
The sketching in graphite includes an initial attempt at indicating the perspective view of the tree-lined alley through the open loggia, and, below the plan, a profile of the main entablature.
The sketching in graphite includes an initial attempt at indicating the perspective view of the tree-lined alley through the open loggia, and, below the plan, a profile of the main entablature.
Literature
See 110/29 Wren Society, IV, pl. 25, top; Thurley 2003, fig. 178
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