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Sir John Soane's collection includes some 30,000 architectural, design and topographical drawings which is a very important resource for scholars worldwide. His was the first architect’s collection to attempt to preserve the best in design for the architectural profession in the future, and it did so by assembling as exemplars surviving drawings by great Renaissance masters and by the leading architects in Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries and his near contemporaries such as Sir William Chambers, Robert Adam and George Dance the Younger. These drawings sit side by side with 9,000 drawings in Soane’s own hand or those of the pupils in his office, covering his early work as a student, his time in Italy and the drawings produced in the course of his architectural practice from 1780 until the 1830s.
Browse (via the vertical menu to the left) and search results for Drawings include a mixture of Concise catalogue records – drawn from an outline list of the collection – and fuller records where drawings have been catalogued in more detail (an ongoing process).
Contents of Adam Volume 56
- Scotland, unidentified location. View of a landscape, possibly on a headland, with rocky hillocks and small leafy shrubs.
- Scotland: Edinburgh: Greyfriars' Churchyard, Adam Mausoleum. Perspective of the small single-bay Adam mausoleum in Greyfriars' Churchyard, Edinburgh. On the left is a small tree and in the background are the towers of Heriot's Hospital and beyond is Edinburgh Castle.
- Scotland: Moray: Elgin Cathedral. View of the ruins of Elgin Cathedral seen from across the River Lossie. In the foreground are several figures, one fishing, and a horse added in pencil.
- Scotland: Fife: Dunfirmline. View of Dunfermline, showing the Abbey, palace and town in the middle distance, with a single-span bridge and main road; in the foreground are a figure and dog.
- Capriccio of an octagonal pavilion with Venetian windows, on a rusticated and arcaded basement. It is approached from a raised walkway that has a rusticated balustrade on one side and circular, thatched and tiled buildings on the other side. The whole is set in a richly wooded landscape, with figures in a boat in the foreground.
- Unfinished capriccio showing a river crossed by a three-bay bridge with classical ruins on several levels on one side, and domestic buildings on the other side. In the foreground are a shepherd and sheep, together with other unfinished figures and horses.
- Capriccio showing an irregular group of farm buildings of various sizes; in the foreground are a seated shepherd wearing a hat, and his sheep, beside a group of trees in full leaf.
- Capriccio showing a pavilion, probably octagonal, with three Venetian windows between semi-engaged columns surmounted by a domed and balustraded roof. The pavilion is in a landscape setting, with figures both on and beside a lake.
- Capriccio showing a ruined and overgrown triumphal arch, with coupled columns, consoles, and a cornice with Greek key decoration. To one side is a balustraded terrace with urns, several small trees and a round-headed doorway.
- Study of four separate, deciduous trees of varying ages.
- Study of a deciduous tree in full leaf, with downward-sweeping branches across a knarled trunk.
- Capriccio showing an irregular, towered building on a rocky hill above a road, along which a goatherd, dog and goats are going, towards a cascade edged with trees. In the distance are mountains.
- Capriccio showing a ruined Gothic gateway to a fortified religious building, with pointed arch topped by a crucifix, machicolations, tracery and round towers. It is set in a heavily-wooded landscape, with water in the foreground.
- Capriccio of a partially ruined tower on a small island or isthmus, approached over a single-span bridge, with another bridge and a small village in the distance. In the foreground is a waterfall with figures and cattle grazing nearby.
- drawing removed - see below
- Capriccio showing a ruined structure connected by a balustraded terrace to a small building with a pitched roof and staircase. In the distance is another irregular building, with background hills. In the foreground is a large young tree.
- Capriccio showing a cave with water and rocks at the base, opening onto a landscape with a towered building on a hilltop in the distance.
- Scotland: Clackmannanshire: Clackmannan Tower. View of Clackmannan Tower, a Scottish towerhouse with irregular additions to one side, entered through a courtyard with classical doorway beyond. It is set in a landscape with young deciduous trees.
- Scotland: Stirling: Doune. View of the partially-ruined Castle of Doune (Down) with a stunted tree in the foreground, and a bridge and mill on the River Teith; in the distance is the village of Doune.
- drawing removed - see below
- drawing removed - see below
- Scotland: unidentified location. View looking down on a scrubby and rocky headland with two reclining figures and a dog in the foreground, and three additional figures, soldiers or sportsmen.
- Capriccio showing a landscape with three figures and a fourth in a boat; in the distance are additional figures and animals near a small village that has a Pantheon-like church with mountains beyond.
- England: Channel Islands: Jersey: Elizabeth Castle. Unfinished view of Elizabeth Castle with figures in front of the small battlemented fort set on a rocky outcrop, with the sea and hills in the distance.
- England: Surrey: Richmond Gardens. Revised design for Queen Caroline's Hermitage in Richmond Gardens, showing a small three-bay grotto or hermitage of rusticated work, with double pediments and small campanile to one side, in a formal woodland setting. In the foreground is a satyr kissing the hand of a lady, and in pencil a plan of of five columns.
- Scotland: Midlothian: Hawthornden. View of the partially-ruined castle at Hawthornden, set high on rocks above a wooded gorge of the North Esk river, with a seated figure in the foreground to the right.
- Scotland: unidentified location. View of an expansive, flat and wooded landscape with large deciduous trees in the foreground; in the distance is a group of figures beneath low a tree, beyond which is a symmetrical building with a flat roof.
- Scotland: unidentified location. View of a lake in hilly countryside, with rocks and a tree in the foreground beside a rutted road,and with figures beside a river.
- Study for a perspective of a rusticated building showing two three-bay elevations composed as a Venetian window with a central door with l'oeil de boeuf above opening onto a statue, and a shallow dome supported by rusticated columns as a belevedere. In the interior is a figure.
- Study for an elevation of a small rusticated pavilion with grotesque masks above banded columns and on the keystone arch, with a small domed belvedere above; unfinished pencil details.
- Study of three twisted trees in leaf growing out of rocky ground.
- Unfinished landscape study showing a reclining figure, drawn in pencil, in front of a group of rocks from which a young and broken tree in leaf is growing.
- England: Surrey: Richmond Gardens. Three studies for Queen Caroline's Hermitage in Richmond Gardens showing, top: section of interior with a table in a shell-decorated niche with a daybed on either side; centre: elevation of rustic work in three bays with gated central entrance, covered in vegetation; bottom: plan.
- England: Hampshire: Winchester. Study of the three-tier Gothic cross at Winchester.
- Unfinished study for an obelisk on a rectangular plinth with consoles.
- Study of a relief panel showing a lion attacking a young bull.
- Italy: Rome: Villa Madama. Unfinished view of the interior of the Villa Madama showing the garden loggia and the entrance passageway from the cortile.
- Italy: Venice: Scuola Grande della Carità. Unfinished study of part of Titian's Presentation of the Virgin (1539) in the Scuola Grande della Carità, Venice.
- Capriccio showing a garden building in the form of a three-bay triumphal arch, with a coffered niche inserted into the central opening. The building is set above a small lake surrounded by groups of trees.
- Italy: Venice: Madonna dell'Orto. Design for an altarpiece on canvas at Madonna dell'Orto that probably depicts the death and apotheosis of the Virgin, with an elaborate frame of coupled columns supporting shell cartouches and angels, with a Latin cross between them.
- drawing removed
- drawing removed
- Unfinished study for part of a ceiling compartment, showing two rectangular panels of anthemion decoration, and at the right angle where the two meet, a square panel with a head in profile; numerous pen tryouts.
- Italy: Rome: Villa Doria Pamphilj (Villa Belrespiro). Unfinished study for a ceiling compartment in the Sala Rotonda in the Villa Doria Pamphilj.
- Italy: Rome, Villa Doria Pamphilj. Unfinished study for a ceiling compartment in the Sala Rotonda of the Villa Doria Pamphilj.
- Italy: Rome: Villa Doria Pamphilj. Unfinished study of ceiling compartments of the vestibule of the Villa Doria Pamphilj with a triangular panel filled with scrolling foliage within a double border. At the apex is part of an oval panel.
- Capriccio showing a landscape with a partially-ruined domestic building on a rusticated basement next to a ruined tower; behind are hills and in the foreground is a rocky landscape with waterfall.
- Capriccio showing ruined classical buildings in a densely wooded landscape.
- Capriccio showing a pyramidal mausoleum behind a group of trees in an undulating parkland landscape; in the middle distance is a four-bay bridge and river, with other buildings beyond.
- Capriccio showing a statue of a seated figure on a square plinth among a group of conifers beside a lake; on a hill in the distance is a classical domed building.
- Capriccio showing a large circular, columned building above steps, with a Pantheon-style dome on a drum set in a wooded hilly landscape. In the foreground is a small waterfall.
- Capriccio showing a square two-storey building with a Pantheon-style dome on a drum and two entrances on steps with relief sculpture above. Across a single-span bridge is a three-bay pavilion, with trees and a lake in the landscape.
- Italy: Rome: the Trevi Fountain. View of the Trevi Fountain showing the building from the left of the central standing figure of Oceanus, with the attic storey of the architectural façade behind cut off. In the foreground are groups of figures.
- Italy: Rome: the Trevi Fountain. View of the Trevi Fountain showing the standing figure of Oceanus in the centre with a triton on either side and waterfalls, with the lower half of the architectural façade behind. In the foreground are figures and dogs.
- Italy: Rome: the Trevi Fountain. View of the Trevi Fountain showing the façade and sculpture from the right, with the central figure of Oceanus flanked by the two tritons on rocks. The building is cut off above the head of the niche. In the foreground are groups of figures.
- drawing removed - see below
- Trompe l'œil showing five drawings of ruins, composed as if they are on overlapping sheets of paper.
- Capriccio of classical ruins showing the three-bay portico of a temple with two-bay pilastered naos surrounded by ruined walls, with water in the foreground.
- Study of a deciduous tree in leaf set in a landscape with a figure in the foreground and other figures in the distance beside a large building with a tall round tower.
- Capriccio showing a landscape with two clumps of trees and, beneath crags, a building in a walled garden in the middle distance with mountains beyond
- Capriccio showing figures beside a sarcophagus, a column and ruined decorated panels in a landscape setting with trees and vegetation. In the distance are battlemented towers and walls.
- drawing removed - see below
- Unfinished capriccio showing a tree, architectural fragments and vegetation in the foreground, framing a ruined building with arches and porticoes.
- Capriccio showing a broken sarcophagus with three statues in an arcade as its front panel. It is set among ruins with trees in the background.
- Capriccio showing a ruined arch with the remains of an Ionic portico on one side and a statue on the other; in the foreground are architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a broken, strigillated sarcophagus beside the base of a column, with trees and a columned building in the background.
- Capriccio showing columns and entablature of a ruined portico, with a statue of a seated figure on a rectangular base with an urn in the shape of a pine-cone; in the foreground are architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing the façade of a large building approached by a balustraded ramp leading to a three-bay portico, with a pedimented and shallow domed attic storey above.
- Capriccio showing a landscape with an open sarcophagus with lid to one side in front of a temple with Ionic pilasters, relief panels and a vaulted roof.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a ruined domed building whose walls are articulated by free-standing columns. In the centre is a pyramidal sarcophagus.
- Capriccio showing a richly coffered ruined vault over a sarcophagus on a rectangular base. Beyond this is part of a triumphal arch.
- Capriccio showing an interior wall below the remains of a coffered ceiling with three-bay openings alternating with a doorway bay, architectural fragments and vegetation.
- Capriccio showing, virtually in profile, a composite portico and part of a colonnade framing a seated statue on a base.
- Capriccio showing four bays of a building with a doorway under a segmental pediment with a plain panel above. In the distance is a wooded landscape.
- Capriccio showing a small ruined temple with a pediment above a coffered niche with three-bay flanking wall above architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing part of a ruined circular temple with Corinthian capitals beside a pyramid with architectural fragments at its base.
- Capriccio showing a ruined arch with two bays of a Corinthian portico to one side. Below the arch are two figures, one mounted on horseback.
- Capriccio showing a five-bay portico with attic storey, adjoining a smaller building with architectural fragments in the foreground.
- Capriccio showing part of a ruined colonnade, with an open sarcophagus in the foreground and other architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing the pilastered and vaulted interior section of a pyramid, adjoined by a ruined colonnade, with architectural fragments in the foreground.
- Capriccio showing a curved wall of columns and pilasters, with part of an obelisk on a square decorated base with architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a ruined temple with a three-bay portico, with part of a ruined vault and architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing part of a circular temple with Corinthian and fluted columns with swag decoration in the frieze. In the foreground are architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a round archway flanked by a projecting column against a two-bay pilastered wall, with part of a sarcophagus in the foreground.
- Capriccio showing a ruined building formed of a straight and curved colonnade, leading to a triumphal arch heavily decorated with sculpture. In the foreground is a large sarcophagus on a rectangular base.
- Capriccio showing a large ruined archway with two freestanding Doric columns and attic storey with inscribed panel. A sarcophagus is in the right foreground and on the left is a crumbling arch.
- Capriccio showing the colonnade of a ruined circular temple with an urn in the foreground above an inscribed panel on top of a broken and empty sarcophagus.
- Capriccio showing parts of a ruined colonnade with a triumphal arch on the left. In the foreground is an oval or circular urn, decorated with figures in relief.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a circular temple with square coffered vaulting. An elaborately decorated sarcophagus with an inscribed panel is in the foreground.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a vaulted hall with coffered apse. On either side of the hall are fluted columns supporting a heavy entablature. In the foreground are architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a ruined triumphal arch with free-standing columns on either side. On the right a lionskin hangs above an altar. In the background is a Colosseum-like ruin.
- Capriccio showing a ruined temple with a curved apse seen through a screen of columns supporting the remains of a roof. In the foreground is part of a sarcophagus re-used as a fountain and three figures among architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a ruined hall, partly roofed, with a coffered apse at one end and pilastered walls. In the foreground is a sarcophagus supported on sphinxes. To the right are architectural fragments, including one depicting three heads in relief.
- Capriccio showing a ruined temple portico, with a statue of a seated figure on a square base. To the left is a fountain, the basin of which is made of a re-used sarcophagus.
- Capriccio showing a ruined structure of free-standing columns. In the foreground is a makeshift fountain incorporating a re-used sarcophagus.
- Capriccio showing a ruined apse. Within the ruins is a statue on a circular plinth. In the foreground among architectural fragments is one showing three soldiers' heads in relief.
- Capriccio showing a wall with relief panel and decorated pilasters. In the foreground are large architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing part of the interior of a circular building with pilasters whose capitals are linked by swags. In the foreground is a large urn.
- Capriccio showing trophies mounted on a plinth. In the distance is a circular building, possibly a church.
- Capriccio showing a double Composite and single curved colonnade. To the left is a boat sarcophagus on a plinth among architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a sarcophagus re-used as the basin of a fountain set among ruins. In the foreground is water and in the distance a triumphal arch.
- Capriccio showing a curved arcade of columns, supporting a sculptural frieze, in front of which is a sarcophagus on a plinth with an inscribed tablet. In the foreground are Ionic and Corinthian capitals and two diminutive figures.
- Capriccio showing a pyramidal sarcophagus surrounded by columns on raised ruined vaulting. In the foreground is water.
- Capriccio showing the remains of a vaulted and coffered interior with two niches supporting segmental and triangular pediments, columns and decorated pilasters. In the foreground are large architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing part of the interior of a ruined circular temple. In the foreground is a sarcophagus on a plinth that has a panel showing three heads in relief. On the left are figures.
- Capriccio showing monumental ruin with a niche containing a statue on a plinth set amongst architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing ruins with columns and colonnade. On the wall is an inscribed panel and in the foreground are architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a long rectangular vaulted tunnel with rounded arcading on each side; at one end are rocks and a waterfall, and at the other end are inscribed panels and column bases.
- Capriccio showing a ruined arch with pilasters and smaller columns with a broken cornice top adjoining a double-columned screen. In foreground are architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a semi-circular niche within a ruin. It is set in a landscape, with rubble in the foreground.
- Capriccio showing two bays of a ruined double colonnade with vegetation on the cornice, incorporating a wall with round doorway and parts of vaulting. In the foreground are architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a square mausoleum or small villa on two floors with pedimental attic storey, a circular cupola and shallow dome above. It is approached by a ramped stair, with figures and animals in the foreground landscape.
- Capriccio showing a boat-shaped sarcophagus on a tall base, with trees and a round building with a shallow stepped dome in the background.
- Capriccio showing a triumphal archway with attic storey above. To one side are two free-standing columns, one having a statue on top; another statue of a seated figure on a base is shown beside a large fragment of a frieze in the foreground.
- Capriccio showing a section of the interior of a domed building with an outer ring of columns. In the foreground are two large sarcophagus fragments.
- Capriccio showing part of the top of a triumphal arch, with two projecting Corinthian capitals with cornice above. Below are architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a ruined temple front of three bays, adjoining a colonnade with niches. In the foreground are fragments.
- Capriccio showing a ruined circular colonnade of the Corinthian order with a broken and overgrown cornice. Beside it is a pyramid and in front of that is a circular altar-sarcophagus.
- Capriccio showing the basement of a ruined circular building, with column bases above a cornice. In the background are buildings, and in the foreground is a sarcophagus re-used as the basin of a fountain.
- Capriccio showing a large urn on a square base surrounded by architectural fragments, beside a triumphal arch, seen from the side. The arch is enriched with two relief roundels and has a statue on a free-standing column.
- Capriccio showing a ruined hall with rfragments of a dome supported by arches and coupled columns; beyond is another ruined and vaulted hall. In the foreground is a group of diminutive figures. A sarcophagus on a plinth is to the right, a statue of a seated figure to the left.
- Capriccio showing a sarcophagus with decorated front panel set between two fluted columns.
- Capriccio showing part of a coffered arch with a colonnade beyond.
- Capriccio showing part of the interior of a ruined domed building with parts of the coffered dome remaining, supported by paired columns. In the foreground is a large broken sarcophagus among architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a ruined three-bay building with niches and relief panels. In the foreground is part of a sarcophagus and an architectural fragment.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a roofless ruined building. In the foreground is a statue of a seated figure on a base, scattered fragments and three diminutive figures.
- Capriccio showing a large ruinous arch, in front of which is part of a free-standing column and a sarcophagus on a plinth.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a ruinous, coffered, circular building. In the foreground are architectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a large building with coffered ceiling supported by free-standing columns, with the walls containing niches and relief panels. At one end is a screen of five bays.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a large barrel-vaulted and coffered hall with three-bay screens alternating with niches leading to a hemicycle at the end. At floor level, a series of steps lead to a circular fountain and basin and sculptures of seated figures.
- Capriccio showing an arch with coffered vault and interior columns, with free-standing columns supporting a plain cornice on the façade. In the foreground are arcitectural fragments.
- Capriccio showing a large building with five-bay portico and pediment with a long side façade having a central triumphal arch and shallow dome above. In the foreground are a bridge, figures and triumphal column.
- Capriccio showing ruined vaults beside the side façade of a triumphal arch with a projecting column and two roundels linked to pilasters by garlands. In the foreground is a tilted sarcophagus.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a vaulted and coffered hall with rooflight; the walls below are broken by a three-bay screen into another hall. On the other two walls are segmental arches and wall niches containing cineraria.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a coffered and barrel-vaulted hall with relief and free-standing sculpture, doorway and curtained screen; beyond is shown a room with a framed painting over the chimneypiece.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a hall with vaulted ceiling and the walls divided by a cornice decorated with Greek Key moulding and bucrania, and with depressed arches below opening into further halls. There are cineraria in niches and a circular fountain basin in the foreground.
- Capriccio showing an interior of three bays divided by coffered arches with columned screens on either side of a segmental pedimented doorway, above which are sculptural panels. In the foreground are figures and a circular sarcophagus.
- Capriccio showing a ruined interior with vaulted roof and rooflight, with niches containing cineraria and sarcophagi, and a further domed and coffered hall through a pilastered opening. In the foreground are fragments of a sarcophagus.
- Capriccio showing a ruined interior (possibly catacombs) with a series of cineraria in wall niches, a large sarcophagus on a decorated stepped base, and a doorway with the lintel inscribed 'Divo Avg'.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a series of halls at different levels, with coffered barrel vaults and dome supported by free-standing columns topped with sculpture and separated by niches.
- Capriccio showing a broken and overgrown sarcophagus with a tripartite front panel on a console base, beside the foot of a fluted pilaster.
- Capriccio showing two colonnades with the remains of cornices in front of a wall with relief panels. In the foreground are decorated fragments.
- Capriccio showing the interior of two large vaulted and coffered halls with the walls decorated with niches containing statues and relief panels of figures. A three-bay screen opens into an exedra; the foreground is on two levels, with steps and two large urns.
- Capriccio showing a view through a wide arch of two huge funerary urns and two small urns emitting smoke, with a staircase between them that leads to another arch and two buildings above this, one pedimented and domed and the other with colonades.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a building with pitched roof and skylight. Below steps lead past a pedimented opening that has a lintel inscribed with the words 'DIVO AVGVTO'.
- Capriccio showing the interior of a circular building with the remains of a dome above two recessed ovals containing figures above two projecting columns with round-headed niches in between. In the foreground is masonry.
- View of the Roman Forum, looking from the ruins at the Temple of Romulus and Remus towards the façade and campanile of Santa Francesca Romana and the Arch of Titus, with the Colosseum in the background.
- View of the garden of the Villa Ludovisi in Rome, showing deciduous trees, conifers and ruined, overgrown city walls at the Porta Pinciana, at the base of which are assembled architectural fragments.
- View along a paved road under the arches of the Via Clivio di Scauro, Rome, with the church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo on the left.
- View into The Forum in Rome, showing figures beside a ruined and coffered building with in the distance the three columns of the Temple of Castor and Pollux.
- View of the Casino dell'Aurora at the Villa Ludovisi in Rome seen from the gardens, with a cart beside a small rustic cottage; in the foreground are two figures.
- View of the Ponte Salario, Rome, with fortified gateway tower at one end.
- View of a Scottish scene showing a river gorge, possibly the North Esk, in a rocky landscape spanned by a simple wooden bridge, leading to a small partially-ruined castle. In the foreground are figures with horse and cart.
- Landscape study showing an irregular line of young deciduous trees on a rise in a park-like setting.
- Capriccio showing a castellated structure in a mountainous and wooded landscape.
- Unfinished capriccio showing domed building in partially wooded landscape. In the foreground is a ruin constructed from fragments, with three figures on the steps and a dog.
- View showing boats in a bay.
- View showing a landscape with two figures, one seated on a group of rocks beneath small trees. Across a narrow bay is a towered building on a rocky slope.
- View showing a wide, low waterfall among rocks in a steep valley.
- Copy of an engraving of a decorative anthropomorphic ewer with several faces composed as handle, spout and base, shown in profile.
- Study showing two deciduous trees.
- Italy: Rome, Colosseum. View showing part of the interior of the Colosseum taken from between two internal walls, with details of the vaulting and masonry.
- Landscape study showing a group of trees of various ages in full leaf.
- Capriccio showing landscape with a fortified village or castle in the middle distance, with wooded hills behind. In the foreground are two groups of rocks above water.
- Capriccio showing a large classical ruin beside a weir.
- Capriccio showing a large ruin composed of an arch with part of a pediment above and projecting coupled columns standing above water.
- Landscape study of a deciduous tree in full leaf; in the background is a three-bay vault with sarcophagus and inscription panel above.
- Landscape study showing a large deciduous tree in full leaf, with numerous other trees in the background.
- Capriccio showing a wooded path beside a river. On the path are two travellers, one on horseback. In the distance is a group of buildings.
- Capriccio showing two columned courts composed of banded columns with a storey of caryatid figures above, supporting a shallow dome.
- drawing removed - see below
- View of the entrance façade of Santa Maria della Salute in Venice and the adjoining customs buildings.