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Scotland: Fife: Dunfirmline. View of Dunfermline, showing the Abbey, palace and town in the middle distance, with a single-span bridge and main road; in the foreground are a figure and dog.
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Reference number
Adam vol.56/4
Purpose
Scotland: Fife: Dunfirmline. View of Dunfermline, showing the Abbey, palace and town in the middle distance, with a single-span bridge and main road; in the foreground are a figure and dog.
Aspect
Perspective
Inscribed
Inscribed in red ink 4
Signed and dated
- Undated, probably between 1746 and 1750.
Medium and dimensions
Pen, grey wash; ink framing line302 x 397
Hand
Robert Adam
Watermark
crowned fleur de lys
Notes
This is a copy by Robert Adam of plate 45 in John Slezer's Theatrum Scotiae (1693), 'The Prospect of ye Town & Abby of Dumfermline'. It is possible that Adam copied it from either the actual drawing in the library at Blair Adam or from the 1718 edition of Slezer's Theatrum Scotiae, which was also in the library. The view shown was taken from the ruins of Malcolm Canmore's tower to the west of the Abbey. Another print in Slezer (plate 46) shows the Abbey from the west at Pittencrieff (see K. Cavers, A Vision of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1993, pp.60-61).
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