Drawing
ca. 1760s. (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Full-size section and elevation of the cornice in the Library at Manresa House, Roehampton, Wandsworth by leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). It was built between 1760 and 1768 or 1769, primarily to hold the Earl of Bessborough’s collection of antique sculpture. It was placed to give the appearance of an antique temple standing in a grove of trees, especially when viewed from Richmond Park, which bordered the site. The library cornice matches that now existing and is probably an office copy of a working drawing for the plasterer, and is schematic. The structure of the moulding has been set out in ink to full scale, the decoration and some small modifications having been added in pencil.
Chambers was born in Sweden and died in London. He travelled widely, visiting China, and studied architecture at the Ecole des Arts, Paris, from 1749 and in Italy from 1750 to 1755. Many of his drawings from this period are contained in his important 'Franco-Italian' album, held in the V&A. Chambers moved to London in 1755 and published his influential Treatise on Civil Architecture in 1759. Chambers demonstrated the breadth of his style in buildings such as Gower (later Carrington) House and Melbourne House, London, in such country houses as Duddingston, Scotland, and in the garden architecture he designed for Wilton House, Wiltshire, and at Kew Gardens. He became head of government building in 1782, and in this capacity built Somerset House, London.
Chambers was born in Sweden and died in London. He travelled widely, visiting China, and studied architecture at the Ecole des Arts, Paris, from 1749 and in Italy from 1750 to 1755. Many of his drawings from this period are contained in his important 'Franco-Italian' album, held in the V&A. Chambers moved to London in 1755 and published his influential Treatise on Civil Architecture in 1759. Chambers demonstrated the breadth of his style in buildings such as Gower (later Carrington) House and Melbourne House, London, in such country houses as Duddingston, Scotland, and in the garden architecture he designed for Wilton House, Wiltshire, and at Kew Gardens. He became head of government building in 1782, and in this capacity built Somerset House, London.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and pencil |
Brief description | Full-size section and elevation of the cornice in the Library at Manresa House, Roehampton, Wandsworth, ca. 1760s, Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). |
Physical description | Full-size section and elevation of the cornice in the Library at Manresa House, Roehampton, Wandsworth. The library cornice matches that now existing and is probably an office copy of a working drawing for the plasterer, and is schematic. The structure of the moulding has been set out in ink to full scale, the decoration and some small modifications having been added in pencil. |
Dimensions |
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Production type | Design |
Marks and inscriptions | 'Cornice in the Library at Rowhampton 1/13 of the height of the Room.' (Inscribed in ink) |
Object history | Bought from Parsons |
Subjects depicted | |
Place depicted | |
Summary | Full-size section and elevation of the cornice in the Library at Manresa House, Roehampton, Wandsworth by leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). It was built between 1760 and 1768 or 1769, primarily to hold the Earl of Bessborough’s collection of antique sculpture. It was placed to give the appearance of an antique temple standing in a grove of trees, especially when viewed from Richmond Park, which bordered the site. The library cornice matches that now existing and is probably an office copy of a working drawing for the plasterer, and is schematic. The structure of the moulding has been set out in ink to full scale, the decoration and some small modifications having been added in pencil. Chambers was born in Sweden and died in London. He travelled widely, visiting China, and studied architecture at the Ecole des Arts, Paris, from 1749 and in Italy from 1750 to 1755. Many of his drawings from this period are contained in his important 'Franco-Italian' album, held in the V&A. Chambers moved to London in 1755 and published his influential Treatise on Civil Architecture in 1759. Chambers demonstrated the breadth of his style in buildings such as Gower (later Carrington) House and Melbourne House, London, in such country houses as Duddingston, Scotland, and in the garden architecture he designed for Wilton House, Wiltshire, and at Kew Gardens. He became head of government building in 1782, and in this capacity built Somerset House, London. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 7078:34 |
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Record created | June 30, 2009 |
Record URL |
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