Physical description

An architectural drawing illustrating the front elevation of a design for a large cottage or farm house.

Place of Origin

London (made)

Date

ca.1784 (made)

Artist/maker

Plaw, John, born 1746 - died 1820 (architect)

Materials and Techniques

Pencil, pen and ink and wash

Dimensions

Height: 32.1 cm Size of covers, Width: 24.8 cm Size of covers

Object history note

The designs for villas and cottages in 'The Plaw Album' were later reproduced as aquatints in Rural Architecture or Designs from the simple cottage to the decorated villa: including some which have been executed, published in 1785 by Isaac and J. Taylor. The publication was one of the first of many books on villas and smaller houses which profoundly affected the development of architecture in the years around 1800. Its aquatint illustrations were the first to set classical buildings into the newly fashionable picturesque landscape. These preparatory drawings show some small differences of detail from the aquatints, particularly in the landscape backgrounds.

Descriptive line

Drawing by John Plaw, 'Design for a larger Cottage or Farm House, Front Elevation', from 'The Plaw Album', an album of 60 architectural designs for villas and cottages, pencil, pen and ink and wash drawing in an album half bound in calf with marbled boards, London, ca.1784

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints, Drawings and Paintings Accession Register for 1996
Plate VII
Plaw, John, Rural Architecture or Designs from the simple cottage to the decorated villa: including some which have been executed (London: Isaac and J. Taylor, 1785).

Materials

Paper; Pencil; Ink; Wash

Techniques

Architectural drawing

Subjects depicted

Farm; Cottages; Architectural drawings; Elevations

Categories

Designs; Drawings; Architecture

Collection

Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection