to a scale and 3 in to 1 ft

Hall, line of Tablet, ¼ Size and (dimensions) 4..4 / 4..0

• datable to c.1771-4

Pen on tracing paper (268 x 150)

traced by Soane, Henry Holland office

In 1771-4, Henry Holland (in collaboration with Lancelot 'Capability' Brown) built Claremont for Lord Clive of Plassey. In 1772, Soane became an assistant in Holland's office and claimed in his unpublished Memoirs, privately printed in 1835, that he designed the hall at Claremont. His work presumably included the design and detailing of the chimney-piece; the writing hand on the drawing is Soane's. The tracing (drawn partly with a straight edge) is one of a number in this album of designs for Claremont. It was sensible of Soane to make copies of some of the work he did while in Holland's office (1772-8) as a record for possible re-use or inspiration. 'Transparent' or 'oiled' paper was made by artists and architects themselves using thin paper and brushing it with oil of turpentine. Ready-made tracing paper was available from W&T Reeves at some time between 1768 and 1782 (J.Krill, English artists paper, 1987, p.95).The chimney-piece was executed to this design (letter from Howard Farrar, Claremont Fan Court School, 23 July 2001). A variant design is shown on a plan with laid-out elevations for the hall in the Claremont album in the Royal Institute of British Architects Drawings Collection (VOS 211/f.22, acc.2004.19). This shows the chimney-piece with bell-flower drops instead of coin mouldings and a rectangular 'Roman' label instead of an oval plaque. The RIBA's Claremont album (uncatalogued, August 2007) includes contract drawings (plans and elevations, ff.41-6) signed by Lord Clive and Lancelot Brown and dated 28 February 1771. The other drawings are presentation drawings with, for example, alternative designs for the hall (one with pilasters, the other with Doric columns on an oval plan), plans with laid-out wall elevations for the rooms on the principal and attic floors and some ceiling designs including one for the 'Little Eating Room (f.50). It is likely that some of the drawings are not as executed.

D.Stroud, Henry Holland, 1966, pp.32-6

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