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Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E , Case SB6, Shelf SH5

Design for the south elevation, Vanbrugh House, Greenwich

Design
ca. 1720-1722 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Sir John Vanbrugh designed the house for his brother Charles, who bought it outright at cost price. As executed the elevation differed in several respects from this drawing. It was newly finished in 1722 when the antiquary, William Stukely, sketched it and it stood on the north east corner of the field. The house was demolished in 1902.

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
TitleDesign for the south elevation, Vanbrugh House, Greenwich (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pen, ink and wash
Brief description
Design for the south elevation, Vanbrugh House, Greenwich; the Vanbrugh Album; office of Sir John Vanbrugh; ca. 1720-1722.
Physical description
Design for the south elevation of the house known as `Mince-Pie' House or Vanbrugh House at Greenwich, showing nine bays including the two corner towers with banded rustication. Scale: 1 inch to 10 feet.
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.7cm
  • Length: 22.9cm
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. 46, cat. 115.
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • Extends Feet 60 Capt Charles Vanbrough's House at Greenwich (Inscribed in ink.)
  • (Numbered in ink with the scale.)
Object history
Vanbrugh designed the house for his brother Charles, who bought it outright at cost price. As executed the elevation differed in several respects from this drawing. See Whistler, fig. 88. It was newly finished in 1722 when the antiquary, William Stukely, sketched it and it stood on the north east corner of the field. The house was demolished in 1902. See Downes, 1987, p 434.

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
Place depicted
Summary
Sir John Vanbrugh designed the house for his brother Charles, who bought it outright at cost price. As executed the elevation differed in several respects from this drawing. It was newly finished in 1722 when the antiquary, William Stukely, sketched it and it stood on the north east corner of the field. The house was demolished in 1902.

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.
Bibliographic references
  • 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. 46, cat. 115.
  • Downes, K., Sir John Vanbrugh: A Biography, 1987, p. 434.
  • Whistler, L., The Imagination of Vanbrugh and his Fellow Artists, 1954, fig. 88.
Collection
Accession number
E.2124:167-1992

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Record createdMarch 24, 2009
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