Measured drawing of the elevation and half plan of the bases of two fluted columns for comparison by leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). On the verso, a drawing of part of an oval with construction lines. This sheet is formed from two pieces, which have been cut apart and recently re-united. The trimmed inscription, cut edges and partial drawing on the back suggest that they were once part of a much larger sheet.

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.