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Tracing of preliminary design
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Reference number
SM volume 42/51
Purpose
Tracing of preliminary design
Aspect
Quarter-plan showing a central patera with acanthus ornament encircled by overlapping paterae each containing a portrait medallion and wreath, and details of ornament including: palmette in scrolled heart band, arcaded band, paterae and calyx band labelled 'A',cyma reversa with acanthus labelled 'B', ovolo with egg and dart and bead labelled 'D'
Scale
to various scales
Inscribed
Library Cielg / Claremont and A (twice), B (twice), C and D
Signed and dated
- datable to c. 1771-4
Medium and dimensions
Pen on tracing paper (161 x 187)
Hand
traced by Soane, Henry Holland office
Notes
The Soane Museum's Adam Collection includes a volume (V) of ceiling designs of which No. 53 is Henry Holland's complete plan for a 'Ceiling to Library Claremont' with a note 'the Medallions to be the English Poets'. The tracing catalogued here and the drawing V/53 show the same design though the tracing is to a slightly larger scale and includes details of mouldings. Stroud, Holland, 1966, fig. 87 shows a photograph of the library and its rectangular ceiling which employs employs a great number of portrait medallions. The tracing catalogued here is evidently a related preliminary design.Several other non-Adam drawings in Volume V suggest that they were probably added by Soane.
Literature
C.Rowell, '"That delightful and magnificent Villa", Clive of India's Claremont and its collections', Apollo,CLIII, April 2001, fig.2 and see below
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