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[10] Design for the interior of the House of Lords, 1735/36
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Reference number
SM 36/2/30
Purpose
[10] Design for the interior of the House of Lords, 1735/36
Aspect
Plan and laid out wall elevations
Scale
bar scale of 1/12 inch to 1 foot
Inscribed
labelled: 50 ft by 75 & 50 high
Signed and dated
- 1735/36
Medium and dimensions
Pen and sepia (brown) wash, pricked for transfer within single ruled border on laid paper (362 x 529)
Hand
William Kent (1685 - 1748)
Watermark
fleur-de-lis within crowned cartouche / LVG
Notes
Two drawings to show designs for the interior of the House of Lords survive. One is at the RIBA British Architectural Library (BAL, SC 58/67; Salmon, fig. 13.26) and the other, a variant design, is catalogued here. The two designs were possibly conceived after a 1735 commission to 'consider the order and method to be observed in this House when his Majesty comes here'. Although the Soane drawing is undated, the RIBA design is inscribed 'January ye 23 1735' (n.s. 1736) and it is possible that both relate to the 'Pantheon' scheme - the fenestration matches the plan catalogued here as drawing [4] and the interior architecture resembles the proposed furnishing of the Cottonian Library (drawings [8-9]).
Drawing [10] takes the form of an 'exploded' view with plan and laid out wall elevations, typical of Kent. In this design the House is double the width and a little over five feet longer than the old Lords' Chamber ('50 ft by 75 & 50 high'). The ceiling is coved and the upper walls punctuated with alternating fenestration and niches bearing statues. The throne sits directly opposite the entrance in front of an apse (the monarch is shown seated). In variance to the RIBA design, the benches on one side of the room are curved and break to allow for a large chimneypiece with an overmantel, and the bar takes a different shape. The arcades behind the benches were to act as galleries for the public.
(Salmon, pp. 337-38)
Drawing [10] takes the form of an 'exploded' view with plan and laid out wall elevations, typical of Kent. In this design the House is double the width and a little over five feet longer than the old Lords' Chamber ('50 ft by 75 & 50 high'). The ceiling is coved and the upper walls punctuated with alternating fenestration and niches bearing statues. The throne sits directly opposite the entrance in front of an apse (the monarch is shown seated). In variance to the RIBA design, the benches on one side of the room are curved and break to allow for a large chimneypiece with an overmantel, and the bar takes a different shape. The arcades behind the benches were to act as galleries for the public.
(Salmon, pp. 337-38)
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