Explore Collections Explore The Collections
You are here: CollectionsOnline  /  [16] Drawing made for exhibition at the Royal Academy by George Bailey, 1836
  • Image Not Yet Available

Reference number

P261 North Drawing Room: south wall

Purpose

[16] Drawing made for exhibition at the Royal Academy by George Bailey, 1836

Aspect

Plan, slightly amended from the original design

Scale

to a scale

Inscribed

(in small capitals) THIS DESIGN WAS COMPOSED WITHOUT REGARD TO EXPENCE / OR LIMITED AS TO SPACE IN THE GAY MORNiNG OF YOUTHFUL / FANCY AMID ALL THE WILD IMAGINATION OF AN ENTHUSIASTIC / MIND, ANIMATED BY THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE MAJESTIC / RUINS OF THE SUBLIME WORKS OF IMPERIAL ROME; TO GIVE LOCALITY TO THE DESIGN AS IT IS SHEWN / CONNECTED WITH THE BANKS OF THE RIVER THAMES. / THE BUILDINGS TINTED RED AND THOSE MARKED F.F.F. / DID NOT FORM PART OF THE FIRST DESIGN MADE / IN ROME; (key to building) REFERENCES / A.A. HALLS OF ENTRANCE / B. HOUSE OF LORDS / C. HOUSE OF COMMONS / D. CHAPEL / E. CONFERENCE ROOM / F.F.F. LIBRARIES / G.G.G. COMMITTEE ROOMS &c / H.H. APARTMENTS FOR THE / SEVERAL OFFICERS OF / BOTH HOUSES and REFERENCES / I HOUSE FOR THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS / K HOUSE FOR THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS / THERE IS A LOFTY BASEMENT STORY THROUGHOUT / THE BUILDING IN WHICH ARE THE INFERIOR / OFFICES CONNECTED WITH BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT and rooms lettered A to K (inscription taken from an old photograph) Frame labelled (later) PLAN OF DESIGN FOR SENATE HOUSE (SIR J. SOANE, ROME 1779)

Signed and dated

  • n/a

Medium and dimensions

n/a Original gilt, reeded frame (matching SM volume 66/4)

Hand

George Bailey (see Notes below)

Verso

NA

Watermark

n/a

Notes

George Bailey (born 1792), entered Soane's office as a pupil, remained as an assistant and in 1837, after Soane's death, became the first curator of Sir John Soanes's Museum until his death in 1860.

'F' marked on the drawing refers to the six library rooms added to the original scheme of 1779. Planned in an enfilade of three rooms parallel with the main body of the building and connecting the wings, they replaced twin sunken gardens with obelisks.

Soane exhibited at the Royal Academy 1836, No.952 'A portfolio design for a British Senate House; from the original drawing made in Rome in 1779'. Although there is no documentary proof that this was the 'portfolio design' for a British Senate House exhibited at the R.A., it does seem highly probable. The term 'portfolio' suggests a design made by a student as evidence of study and ability and kept with other such drawings in his portfolio. Soane died on 20 January 1837.

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