[2] Sketch design, 1781

Explore Collections

You are here: CollectionsOnline / [2] Sketch design, 1781

Browse

Sir John Soane office drawings: the drawings of Sir John Soane and the office of Sir John Soane
- Public buildings
  - London: Battersea: unexecuted competition designs for a prison for 300 women and a prison for 600 men (with drawings by George Dance), 1781-1782 (13)

Use of images and copyright
Enlarge this Image

Print this image in A4 view

Reference number

SM volume 42/122 verso

Purpose

[2] Sketch design, 1781

Aspect

Rough plan and bird's eye view of a six-sided (half a decagon) enclosure with courtyards and towers, elevation of front with three towers

Inscribed

8)140 [over] .17 (140 divided by 8 equals 17)

Signed and dated

datable to 1781

Medium and dimensions

Pencil, brown pen on laid paper with one fold mark (247 x 392)

Hand

George Dance (1741-1825)

Watermark

Fleur-de-lis

Notes

This rapidly made sketch design encapsulates the finished designs that followed. Thus SM volume 42/39 recto is the basis of the plan for a women's prison (see SM 13/1/11) while the verso of this drawing has the essence of the plan and elevation of the men's prison (see SM 13/1/16 and SM 13/1/20). The authorship of these drawings is important and has been attributed to George Dance.

For recto of this drawing see (Soane's architectural education ...): Preliminary, early, intermediate and late designs, record drawings and R.A. exhibition drawings for a mausoleum for the Earl of Chatham died 11 May 1778: drawing 2 by Soane

Literature

P.du Prey, John Soane: the making of an architect, 1982, chapter 10, 'The Competition for the first Howardian penitentiaries'

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