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Design for new government offices with pavilions, March 1825
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- Sir John Soane office drawings: the drawings of Sir John Soane and the office of Sir John Soane
Reference number
SM (165) 50/3/4
Purpose
Design for new government offices with pavilions, March 1825
Aspect
165 Perspective View of the New Council Offices Board of Trade and Home Department from the south east
Inscribed
as above, Approved / Liverpool / F Robinson
Signed and dated
- Lincolns Inn Fields March 1825
Medium and dimensions
Pencil, sepia, yellow ochre and blue washes with sepia wash border on wove paper (525 x 736)
Hand
Soane office
Watermark
Smith & Allnutt 1820
Notes
Soane described the origins of the pavilions at the 1828 Inquiry:
'When the model was made, forming one unbroken line, the whole extent of the Board of Trade and the Privy Council Office, it was observed, that it would produce a monotonous effect. I did not think so; great unbroken lines occur in all the best examples of antiquity, and many of the most celebrated works in Italy have the same character, such as the Stoppani Palace [the Palazzo Vidoni Caffarelli] by Raphael, the little Farnese Palace, and many others. In order to take off from what was considered the monotonous effect of the unbroken line of entablature shown in the model, I was directed to make a projecting pavilion next Downing Street; and subsequently I was directed to make a design to continue a similar portico in the front of the Office of the Secretary of State for the Home department.'
Drawing 165 is signed as approved by Lord Liverpool and Frederick Robinson, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
'When the model was made, forming one unbroken line, the whole extent of the Board of Trade and the Privy Council Office, it was observed, that it would produce a monotonous effect. I did not think so; great unbroken lines occur in all the best examples of antiquity, and many of the most celebrated works in Italy have the same character, such as the Stoppani Palace [the Palazzo Vidoni Caffarelli] by Raphael, the little Farnese Palace, and many others. In order to take off from what was considered the monotonous effect of the unbroken line of entablature shown in the model, I was directed to make a projecting pavilion next Downing Street; and subsequently I was directed to make a design to continue a similar portico in the front of the Office of the Secretary of State for the Home department.'
Drawing 165 is signed as approved by Lord Liverpool and Frederick Robinson, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
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