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Part elevation of a large bridge for unidentified project

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

From the dimensions inscribed on this drawing, it would appear that the bridge was designed to have a total span of about 700 feet. It must therefore have been intended for the Thames or some other major river. Another design for a the same unidentified project in E.2124.17 shows that the width of the bridge was to be 40 feet.

This drawing is part of the Vanbrugh Album from the Library at Elton Hall. The Album contains 254 drawings and includes works by Sir John Vanbrugh, Sir Edward Lovett Pearce, William Talman, Nicholas Hawksmoor, Richard Castle and anonymous draughtsmen in Vanbrugh's office. It was created ca. 1945-54 and was purchased by Victoria and Albert Museum in 1992.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePart elevation of a large bridge for unidentified project (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink
Brief description
Part elevation of a large bridge for unidentified project; the Vanbrugh Album; Sir John Vanbrugh; early 18th century.
Physical description
Part elevation of a large bridge showing two and a half arches. Perspectival lines in pencil run from an elevation of an obelisk on the axis of the bridge. On the back, studies for ornamental niches over the piers with rusticated columns.
Dimensions
  • Height: 15.9cm
  • Length: 50cm
Two sheets joined horizontally with wax. Taken from Lorimer, C. and Newton, C. (ed.), The collection of drawings by Sir John Vanbrugh and his circle in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: V & A, 1996, p. 36, cat. 79.
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
falls 10 ft in 100, from A (Inscribed in ink and numbered in ink and pencil with dimensions.)
Object history
From the dimensions given it would appear that the bridge was designed to have a total span of about 700 feet. It must therefore have been intended for the Thames or some other major river. E.2124.17 shows that the width of the bridge was to be 40 feet.

Part of the Vanbrugh Album, which was purchased in 1992 with the aid of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the National Art Collections Fund, The Monument Trust, The Sainsbury Trust, and an anonymous donor.
Subjects depicted
Summary
From the dimensions inscribed on this drawing, it would appear that the bridge was designed to have a total span of about 700 feet. It must therefore have been intended for the Thames or some other major river. Another design for a the same unidentified project in E.2124.17 shows that the width of the bridge was to be 40 feet.

This drawing is part of the Vanbrugh Album from the Library at Elton Hall. The Album contains 254 drawings and includes works by Sir John Vanbrugh, Sir Edward Lovett Pearce, William Talman, Nicholas Hawksmoor, Richard Castle and anonymous draughtsmen in Vanbrugh's office. It was created ca. 1945-54 and was purchased by Victoria and Albert Museum in 1992.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Lorimer, C. and Newton, C. (ed.), The collection of drawings by Sir John Vanbrugh and his circle in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: V & A, 1996, p. 36, cat. 79.
Collection
Accession number
E.2124:187-1992

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Record createdMarch 24, 2009
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