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[12] Design for the first floor of a new Parliament House
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Reference number
SM 36/2/13
Purpose
[12] Design for the first floor of a new Parliament House
Aspect
First floor plan
Scale
bar scale of 5/9 inch to 1 foot
Inscribed
labelled: (pencil) River Thames, Court, House of Commons, Lobby, House of Lords and some dimensions given
Signed and dated
- 1734-39
circa
Medium and dimensions
Pen, pencil and sepia (brown) wash, pricked for transfer within single ruled border on laid paper (374 x 513)
Hand
William Kent (1685 - 1748)
Watermark
IV
Notes
The most crucial developments in the first 'Chiswick' plan are that the building is now much smaller (300 by 232 feet), a central atrium with a peristyle has been introduced to improve circulation, and the Cottonian Library and Court of Requests have gone from the design. In this drawing, the shape of the dome is suggested by the internally octagonal plan of the entrance hall, which measures 50 feet square. On either side is a large, geometrical staircase, providing access from the ground level. The House of Lords is a simple rectangle and the House of Commons a Greek cross in plan. Both have a serliana in one wall. However, in pencil, an idea for a rectangular House of Commons with an oval of seating and with two smaller chambers on both the east and west sides has been added.
(Salmon, pp. 339-42)
(Salmon, pp. 339-42)
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