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[5] Design for a monument, with a sarcophagus and scrolled acroterion, 1815
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Drawing. SM 63/6/55. ©Sir John Soane's Museum, London. Photo: Ardon Bar-Hama
Reference number
SM 63/6/55
Purpose
[5] Design for a monument, with a sarcophagus and scrolled acroterion, 1815
Aspect
Elevation of a rectangular panel; (verso) rough pencil drawing of a sarcophagus-shaped monument, over a panel and surmounted by a scrolled acroterion
Scale
bar scale of 2 1/2 inches to 1 foot, approximately
Inscribed
(Bailey) Design for a Monument to Lord Bridport
Signed and dated
- (Bailey) 1816 but datable to early 1815
Medium and dimensions
Pencil, pen and wash on wove paper (337 x 525)
Hand
attributed to Soane, and titles added later by George Bailey (Soane Museum curator, 1837-60), inscriptions on versos by Robert Baldwin (fl.1762-c.1804)
Notes
The recto of this drawiing is a preliminary design for a simple tablet surmounted by a scrolled acroterium, incorporating two paterae, a shell and palm leaves, placed in a frame formed by four (fluted?) architraves incised in the manner of pilasters. In the corner stops, ships' prows have been sketched in pencil. The outline of a pedimented backing slab has also been drawn in, in pencil.
The verso shows developing designs for a monument in the form of a sarcophagus.
In a letter dated 14 May 1815, Lady Bridport thanked Soane for his recent letter enclosing a proposed design, 'which as a drawing I greatly admire, but I am not certain that when executed for the church, it would quite suit my ideas; indeed in this undertaking I wish to be entirely satisfied' (Priv. Corr. XIII.H.28). The verso of this drawing show the design to which she refers. The sarcophagus is surmounted by a feature composed of two S-shaped scrolls, incorporating paterae and foliage and capped by a shell.
As in SM 63/6/51, the date inscribed by George Bailey on this drawing was added after it was completed, probably when Bailey served as Soane Museum curator from 1837 to 1860, and in these cases Bailey's dates are inaccurate.
The verso shows developing designs for a monument in the form of a sarcophagus.
In a letter dated 14 May 1815, Lady Bridport thanked Soane for his recent letter enclosing a proposed design, 'which as a drawing I greatly admire, but I am not certain that when executed for the church, it would quite suit my ideas; indeed in this undertaking I wish to be entirely satisfied' (Priv. Corr. XIII.H.28). The verso of this drawing show the design to which she refers. The sarcophagus is surmounted by a feature composed of two S-shaped scrolls, incorporating paterae and foliage and capped by a shell.
As in SM 63/6/51, the date inscribed by George Bailey on this drawing was added after it was completed, probably when Bailey served as Soane Museum curator from 1837 to 1860, and in these cases Bailey's dates are inaccurate.
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