• 1779
• 1780

In emulation of George Dance, Soane had decided by August 1779 to enter for the Parma Academy's competition for which the submission date was 25 May of the following year. The subject was a waterworks or 'Un castello d'acqua decorato d'una pubblica fontana'. Soane's first known alternative designs were made in August 1779 and more finished drawings with additions by another hand followed. However, Soane did not enter for the competition, leaving Rome for England on 19 April 1780 amd arriving home at the end of June.

Soane published a design for a 'castello d'acqua' in Designs public and private, 1832, plate xxxiv*, fig.3. The plan is based on SM 45/1/22 and the elevation on SM 45/1/21 and SM 45/1/20. Inevitably there are variations, for example, the dome has been re-worked and is conical with a heavily decorated drum. Soane's designs for the 'castello d'acqua' are closely related to his Design for an unidentified mausoleum on an X-plan, 1779-80 and a design for a doghouse on which he worked during his stay in Italy - see Soane's early works, 1770-1785: Downhill: County Derry, Northern Ireland, Unexecuted alternative designs for a doghouse for Frederick Hervey, Bishop of Derry and 4th Earl of Bristol, 1778-9 and later Soane exhibited designs for these as well as for a hunting casino (q.v.) at the Royal Academy in 1781.

See also Soane's sketchbook (in Sketchbooks catalogue): Italian Sketches 1779 (volume 39) 11recto for an X-plan, and domed elevation probably made between 4 and 5 of January 1779.

Dance's designs (SM volume 42/98, SM volume 42/99 and SM volume 42/102) are rougher and quite different in character from the previous ones and presumably came after Soane's return to London in the summer of 1780. Perhaps in the course of a discussion of Soane's unresolved design which he may have intended finalising and exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1781.

Related drawings at the Victoria and Albert Museum: see P.du Prey, Sir John Soane, 1985, in series of 'Catalogues of architectural drawings in the Victoria and Albert Museum), catalogue 12,13

Literature. P. du Prey, John Soane's architectural education 1753-80, 1977, pp.243-54; P. du Prey, John Soane: the making of an architect, 1982, pp.177-93; M.Richardson & M.Stevens (eds), John Soane architect: master of space and light, 1999, p.107

Jill Lever, August 2005

Group

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