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[2] Presentation drawing showing alternative designs for a monumental tablet, 9 December 1814
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Reference number
SM 63/6/49
Purpose
[2] Presentation drawing showing alternative designs for a monumental tablet, 9 December 1814
Aspect
Three elevations
Scale
to a scale
Inscribed
The Right Honble Viscountess Bridport, (pencil) No 1, No 2, No 3
Signed and dated
- Lincolns Inn Fields / December 9 1814
Medium and dimensions
Pencil, pen, burnt umber, sepia and Payne's grey washes, within brown quadruple ruled and wash border on wove paper (517 x 336)
Hand
George Basevi (1794-1845, pupil 1810-16)
Watermark
J Whatman 1811
Notes
The three designs in SM 63/6/49 are copied from SM 63/6/12.
In a letter from Lady Bridport dated 14 January 1815, she writes of having recently received drawings showing six alternative designs (Priv. Corr. XIII.H.24). Her letter refers to the same designs as in SM 63/6/49 and SM 63/6/50, favouring the design on the right-hand side of SM 63/6/50 but proposing a panel as in the design on the left-hand side. And yet, as her letter makes clear, she is not completely satisfied with any of the proposals:
'Dear Sir / I receiv'd the Drawings by W / Bawdon, & last week your letter. I / should have written to you sooner on the subject of them, but waited in hopes of / seeing a friend, whose opinion I wish'd. / You do not tell on which of the drawings / you would advise me to choose- No 6 / I think I prefer; only instead of the / ---- (illegible) the Palm branch of No 3.' Lady Bridport notifies Soane that the monument must be inserted in the wall and therefore some small alterations may be necesary. Referring to the designs, she writes: 'They are all rather plain, but [any] one / of them, when executed will, I hope, look well & / handsome, which is what I wish. / I had a drawing sent me (as I believe / I mention'd to Mr[s?] Soane) with many / Naval decorations, these have none - / I mainly notice this for your consideration / I do not find any scale - I think on / paper the pannel (which perhaps I do not / rightly call) of No 4 looks better than No 6....'
In a letter from Lady Bridport dated 14 January 1815, she writes of having recently received drawings showing six alternative designs (Priv. Corr. XIII.H.24). Her letter refers to the same designs as in SM 63/6/49 and SM 63/6/50, favouring the design on the right-hand side of SM 63/6/50 but proposing a panel as in the design on the left-hand side. And yet, as her letter makes clear, she is not completely satisfied with any of the proposals:
'Dear Sir / I receiv'd the Drawings by W / Bawdon, & last week your letter. I / should have written to you sooner on the subject of them, but waited in hopes of / seeing a friend, whose opinion I wish'd. / You do not tell on which of the drawings / you would advise me to choose- No 6 / I think I prefer; only instead of the / ---- (illegible) the Palm branch of No 3.' Lady Bridport notifies Soane that the monument must be inserted in the wall and therefore some small alterations may be necesary. Referring to the designs, she writes: 'They are all rather plain, but [any] one / of them, when executed will, I hope, look well & / handsome, which is what I wish. / I had a drawing sent me (as I believe / I mention'd to Mr[s?] Soane) with many / Naval decorations, these have none - / I mainly notice this for your consideration / I do not find any scale - I think on / paper the pannel (which perhaps I do not / rightly call) of No 4 looks better than No 6....'
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