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

Design

ca. 1725. (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Section, front elevation and plan of a large, two-storey garden temple of the Maison Carrée type. The elevation shows a tetrastyle Roman Doric portico with circular and bucrania motifs in the metopes. The central window above the pedimented doorway is Diocletian.

This drawing is part of the Vanbrugh Album. 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
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink, wash and coloured wash
Brief description
Section, front elevation and plan of a large, two-storey garden temple by Sir Edward Lovett Pearce (1695-1733).
Physical description
Section, front elevation and plan of a large, two-storey garden temple of the Maison Carrée type. The elevation shows a tetrastyle Roman Doric portico with circular and bucrania motifs in the metopes. The central window above the pedimented doorway is Diocletian.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.3cm
  • Length: 37.5cm
Scale: 1 inch to 10 feet. 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. 39, cat. 98.
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Sir, I here send you the designs I promised. I have endeavoured to follow your inclinations as well as I could, still attempting to imitate the style of building, most in favour among the antients except in the ornaments of the inside which you limited to as few as possible, avoiding too great an expense. I did not think needfull to express more than the small room on one side with its conveniencys the other for the baths being much the same the walls of both will butt against the great room and add so great a security that if you please you may arch with brick instead of wood as here expressed, the same of the Lobby or neck which joyns to the farm house. I have not designed the upright of the outside because you allways proposed that should be rude and hid from the eye by two espaliers planted at right angles to the building and some what behind the portico, Which portico is Tetrastyle, the intercol: of the sides Systylos and that of the midle Diastylos both as directed by Vitruvius, whom I have also followed in the proportions of the room, which is broad 2 parts of 3 its length and high 2½ of the same length, so speak the truth it does not answer my expectation. Perhaps I may proceed from the strong desire I have to please you - you will excuse the drawing not being done as I could wish but I was in haste and forced to leave it to a servant. if you like the intention we can better that at any time. Yours.' (Inscribed in ink.)
  • Signed and dated 'EP [.?..] 28 1725'
Object history
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
Section, front elevation and plan of a large, two-storey garden temple of the Maison Carrée type. The elevation shows a tetrastyle Roman Doric portico with circular and bucrania motifs in the metopes. The central window above the pedimented doorway is Diocletian.

This drawing is part of the Vanbrugh Album. 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 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. 39, cat. 98.
Collection
Accession number
E.2124:210-1992

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Record createdApril 17, 2009
Record URL
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