Explore Collections Explore The Collections
You are here: CollectionsOnline  /  Design for part of the Royal Gallery, 18 December 1823

Browse

  • image SM 51/2/36

Reference number

SM 51/2/36

Purpose

Design for part of the Royal Gallery, 18 December 1823

Aspect

Section of part of the Royal Gallery

Scale

bar scale of 5/8 inch to 1 foot

Inscribed

as above, labelled: House of Lords, Old Wall, and dimensions given

Signed and dated

  • 18 December 1823
    18th Decr 1823

Medium and dimensions

Pen, pink and yellow ochre washes on wove paper (530 x 736)

Hand

David Alfred Mocatta (1806 - 1882)
Pupil March 1821 - February 1827.

Notes

This drawing shows the end of the Royal Gallery next to the entrance to the Painted Chamber looking north and west in two sections. The 'Old Wall' belongs to the medieval Painted Chamber, which explains its thickness. The arch has multiple roll mouldings in the archivolt and further roll mouldings in the soffit, as well as a caduceus motif (a winged staff entwined with two serpents). The caduceus is an attribute of Mercury and therefore represents, among else, commerce, no doubt intended in this instance as a reference to British economic prosperity. The entrance beneath the arch in section to the right leads into a small closet.

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