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Presentation drawing of a design for the new Royal Entrance and Scala Regia, July 1822
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- Sir John Soane office drawings: the drawings of Sir John Soane and the office of Sir John Soane
Reference number
SM 71/2/84
Purpose
Presentation drawing of a design for the new Royal Entrance and Scala Regia, July 1822
Aspect
Plan of the Royal Entrance, Scala Regia and new rooms
Scale
bar scale of 1/6 inch to 1 foot
Inscribed
labelled: His Majesty's entrance / into the House of Lords, Triumphal Arc (sic), Vestibule, Statue of His / Late Majesty, Cloister / or / Corridor (twice), Peers Entr[ance], The Lord Chancellors / Entrance, His Majestys Robing Room, The Bishops Entrance, leading to the, Scala Regia, A.B.C. These three rooms are proposed ^to form a National Monument to be decorated with / Paintings, Bassi-relievi & statues to perpetuate the glorious / achievements of British Valour by Sea & Land, which ultimately / produced those great results as under the Auspices of / His Majesty gave Peace to all the World, A.B.C. Through these rooms ^forming a national monument His Majesty passes into the / Robing Room previously to ascending the Throne, A, Statue / of His Majesty, B, C, The Painted Chamber
Signed and dated
- July 1822
John Soane Archt Lincolns Inn Fields July 1822
Medium and dimensions
Pen, yellow ochre, sepia, pink and burnt Sienna washes, pricked for transfer with multi-ruled sepia and black wash border on wove paper (650 x 920)
Hand
Soane Office
Watermark
J Whatman 1821
Notes
This plan is more extensive than SM 71/2/83 and shows two rooms, labelled 'A' (the Prince's Chamber) and 'B', of which only the interiors have been altered. Soane's note explains: 'These three rooms ['A', 'B' and 'C' - the Painted Chamber] are proposed to form a national monument with paintings, bassi-relievi and statues to perpetuate the glorious achievements of British valour'. The King would proceed from the Scala Regia through these three rooms into his Robing Room. This processional route is shown in pink wash. Two statues are labelled - one in the arcade of 'his late majesty' George III and one of the present monarch, George IV, in Gallery 'A'.
The Scala Regia is positioned in enfilade with the vestibule and Gallery 'A'. Soane had experimented with the staircase in different positions, either in parallel to the existing wall or in enfilade with the Prince's Chamber and the vestibule (SM 71/2/82, SM 71/2/83, SM 71/2/80, SM 89/3/71). Placing the Scala Regia in enfilade here meant that the statue of George IV would be visible from the bottom of the staircase, forming a focal point for the royal approach to the House of Lords, something that would have greatly appealed to the King.
See also SM 71/2/65 and SM 71/2/66. Soane's Royal Gallery was executed in 1824 to new designs.
The Scala Regia is positioned in enfilade with the vestibule and Gallery 'A'. Soane had experimented with the staircase in different positions, either in parallel to the existing wall or in enfilade with the Prince's Chamber and the vestibule (SM 71/2/82, SM 71/2/83, SM 71/2/80, SM 89/3/71). Placing the Scala Regia in enfilade here meant that the statue of George IV would be visible from the bottom of the staircase, forming a focal point for the royal approach to the House of Lords, something that would have greatly appealed to the King.
See also SM 71/2/65 and SM 71/2/66. Soane's Royal Gallery was executed in 1824 to new designs.
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