Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E , Case A, Shelf 229

Architectural Drawing

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

Elevation of an entablature, probably for a pilaster, incorporating bees and a rayed head by leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). The bees and rayed head indicate a link with the Barberini family. The whole design recalls the entablatures of the baldacchino at St. Peter's, perhaps designed by Francesco Borromini.

Chambers was born in Sweden and died in London. He travelled widely, visiting China, and studied architecture at the Ecole des Arts, Paris, from 1749 and in Italy from 1750 to 1755. Many of his drawings from this period are contained in his important 'Franco-Italian' album, held in the V&A. Chambers moved to London in 1755 and published his influential Treatise on Civil Architecture in 1759. Chambers demonstrated the breadth of his style in buildings such as Gower (later Carrington) House and Melbourne House, London, in such country houses as Duddingston, Scotland, and in the garden architecture he designed for Wilton House, Wiltshire, and at Kew Gardens. He became head of government building in 1782, and in this capacity built Somerset House, London.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink, pencil and grey wash
Brief description
Elevation of an entablature, probably for a pilaster, incorporating bees and a rayed head, 18th century, Sir William Chambers (1723-1796).
Physical description
Elevation of an entablature, probably for a pilaster, incorporating bees and a rayed head.
Dimensions
  • Height: 234mm
  • Width: 175mm
Production typeDesign
Object history
Bought from Parsons
Historical context
The bees and rayed head indicate a link with the Barberini family (cf.cat.563). The whole design recalls the entablatures of the baldacchino at St. Peter's, perhaps designed by Francesco Borromini.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Elevation of an entablature, probably for a pilaster, incorporating bees and a rayed head by leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). The bees and rayed head indicate a link with the Barberini family. The whole design recalls the entablatures of the baldacchino at St. Peter's, perhaps designed by Francesco Borromini.

Chambers was born in Sweden and died in London. He travelled widely, visiting China, and studied architecture at the Ecole des Arts, Paris, from 1749 and in Italy from 1750 to 1755. Many of his drawings from this period are contained in his important 'Franco-Italian' album, held in the V&A. Chambers moved to London in 1755 and published his influential Treatise on Civil Architecture in 1759. Chambers demonstrated the breadth of his style in buildings such as Gower (later Carrington) House and Melbourne House, London, in such country houses as Duddingston, Scotland, and in the garden architecture he designed for Wilton House, Wiltshire, and at Kew Gardens. He became head of government building in 1782, and in this capacity built Somerset House, London.
Bibliographic reference
Snodin, M. Sir William Chambers. London: V&A Publications, 1996.
Collection
Accession number
7074:14

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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