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  • image SM 45/3/1

Reference number

SM 45/3/1

Purpose

[2] Finished measured drawing

Aspect

Finished Plan

Scale

bar scale of 1/10 in to 1 ft

Inscribed

La Pianta del Palazzo Farnese Roma and dimensions given

Signed and dated

  • Novre 18th 1779

Medium and dimensions

Ppen and sepia wash, the pink and light blue washes added later, within single ruled border on laid paper (699 x 497)

Hand

Soane

Watermark

J Whatman, fleur-de-lis within crowned cartouche with GR below

Notes

The crude colour washes of this drawing were added later, as was the (brush and black ink) inscription PALAZZO FARNESE and CORTILE. Labelled (pencil) CORTILE 32 / Lect 5 and (red pen) 7 32, the drawing was used as a demonstration drawing for Soane's Royal Academy Lecture V (drawing 31).

Soane was obviously restricted to recording only the semi-public circulation areas of the Palazzo Farnese, designed for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, later Pope Paul III, by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger (1484-1546) from 1517. An upper storey was added, together with other modifications, by Michelangelo from 1546. Completed by Giacomo della Porta, 1589, the Palazzo Farnese presently houses the French Embassy.

Literature

P.du Prey, John Soane's architectural education 1753-80, 1977, pp.268-9 (describes recto and verso No. 1 in detail)
W.Lotz, revised. D. Howard, Architecture in Italy 1500-1600, 1995, pp. 57-60

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