Design for a Library at Mamhead thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E , Case A, Shelf 88

Design for a Library at Mamhead

Drawing
1766-69 (made)
Artist/Maker

Drawing showing the four elevations of a library interior 'folded down' around a plan of the same room. The walls are lined with bookshelves, complete with books. The bookcases are drawn as flat topped aedicules with Adam Ionic pilasters. The entablature has a daiper motif which is repeated in the frieze of the ceiling cornice. Acroterian statuettes are placed above the pilasters with shallow panels of classical reliefs set between. A panel of three figures sacrificing at a house is set in a lugged frame above the chimneypiece.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDesign for a Library at Mamhead
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink with grey wash
Brief description
Design drawing for the library at Mamhead House, Devon, by Robert Adam for Lord Lisburne, 1766-69
Physical description
Drawing showing the four elevations of a library interior 'folded down' around a plan of the same room. The walls are lined with bookshelves, complete with books. The bookcases are drawn as flat topped aedicules with Adam Ionic pilasters. The entablature has a daiper motif which is repeated in the frieze of the ceiling cornice. Acroterian statuettes are placed above the pilasters with shallow panels of classical reliefs set between. A panel of three figures sacrificing at a house is set in a lugged frame above the chimneypiece.
Dimensions
  • Height: 520mm
  • Width: 640mm
2 7/8 inches to 5 ft is the scale given in the published catalogue. However in reality it appears to be 2 7/8 inches to 10 ft.
Production typeDesign
Marks and inscriptions
  • Section of the Library at Mamhead. The Seat of the Right Honble Lord Lisburne. (Along the top edge; handwriting; Brown ink)
  • (Dimensions inscribed in centre of the plan and the scale along the bottom edge)
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Bibliographic reference
Alistair Rowan, 'Robert Adam: Catalogue of Drawings in the Victoria and Albert Museum', V&A publications, 1988, cat. 136 and illustrated in pl.63
Collection
Accession number
D.2174-1896

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJuly 25, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest