Drawing
18th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Ground floor plan of a theatre, 18th century, by an unknown artist but possibly owned by leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). In addition to the seating and stage wings, this plan indicates the size and position of the chandelier in the auditorium.
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 with pencil |
Brief description | Ground floor plan of a theatre, 18th century, unknown artist, possibly owned by Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). |
Physical description | Ground floor plan of a theatre. In addition to the seating and stage wings, this plan indicates the size and position of the chandelier in the auditoriu,. |
Dimensions |
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Production type | Design |
Marks and inscriptions |
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Object history | Bought from Parsons |
Production | Attribution note: Although this plan is not drawn by Chambers, it is probable that it was once in his possession. It is drawn by the same hand as the plan of the Tordinona Theatre, Rome, cat. 555. which bears an inscription in Chambers's hand. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Ground floor plan of a theatre, 18th century, by an unknown artist but possibly owned by leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). In addition to the seating and stage wings, this plan indicates the size and position of the chandelier in the auditorium. 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 reference | Snodin, M. Sir William Chambers. London: V&A Publications, 1996.
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Collection | |
Accession number | 7075:5 |
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Record created | June 30, 2009 |
Record URL |
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