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Architectural Drawing

18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Section of a garden cascade and pool by leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). This drawing formed part of a larger sheet, presumably showing the plan of the cascade and pool, but has been trimmed along the lower edge. The drawing shows that the stone lining to the cascade and pool is decorated with geometric panels. Each step in the cascade has a lip to create a waterfall effect. The washes suggest that some of the steps are curved.

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, pencil and grey wash
Brief description
Section of a garden cascade and pool, 18th century, Sir William Chambers (1723-1796).
Physical description
Section of a garden cascade and pool. The drawing shows that the stone lining to the cascade and pool is decorated with geometric panels. Each step in the cascade has a lip to create a waterfall effect. The washes suggest that some of the steps are curved.
Dimensions
  • Height: 143mm
  • Width: 473mm
Production typeDesign
Object history
Bought from Parsons
Production
Attribution note: This drawing formed part of a larger sheet, presumably showing the plan of the cascade and pool, but has been trimmed along the lower edge.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Section of a garden cascade and pool by leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). This drawing formed part of a larger sheet, presumably showing the plan of the cascade and pool, but has been trimmed along the lower edge. The drawing shows that the stone lining to the cascade and pool is decorated with geometric panels. Each step in the cascade has a lip to create a waterfall effect. The washes suggest that some of the steps are curved.

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.
Collection
Accession number
7074:60

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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