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

Measured drawing of a window surround in the Cortile of the Valmarano at Vicenza by leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). The Palazzo Valmarana was rebuilt for Leonardo Valmarana by Andrea Palladio 1565-1566. This window is one of those above the colonnade of the courtyard, at the top of the giant order which adorns the lower two floors. In designing the façade to the courtyard Palladio was influenced by the façade of Baldassare Peruzzi’s Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne, a building Chambers also studied and drew (see cats.298 and 547-548). The sheet has been trimmed along the top edge leaving a fragment of an inscription, and along the right-hand edge removing the outer part of the window surround. Chambers has included profiles of the mouldings on this elevation.

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 and sepia washes
Brief description
Measured drawing of a window surround in the Cortile of the Valmarano at Vicenza, 18th century, Sir William Chambers (1723-1796).
Physical description
Measured drawing of a window surround in the Cortile of the Valmarano at Vicenza.
Dimensions
  • Height: 377mm
  • Width: 245mm
Production typeDesign
Marks and inscriptions
'A Window in the Cortile of the Valmarano at Vicenza' (Inscribed in ink with dimensions)
Object history
Bought from Parsons
Historical context
The Palazzo Valmarana was rebuilt for Leonardo Valmarana by Andrea Palladio 1565-1566. In designing the façade to the courtyard Palladio was influenced by the façade of Baldassare Peruzzi's Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne, a building Chambers also studied and drew (see cats.298 and 547-548). The sheet has been trimmed along the top edge leaving a fragment of an inscription, and along the right-hand edge removing the outer part of the window surround. Chambers has included profiles of the mouldings on this elevation.
Production
Attribution note: This window is one of those above the colonnade of the courtyard, at the top of the giant order which adorns the lower two floors.
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
Measured drawing of a window surround in the Cortile of the Valmarano at Vicenza by leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). The Palazzo Valmarana was rebuilt for Leonardo Valmarana by Andrea Palladio 1565-1566. This window is one of those above the colonnade of the courtyard, at the top of the giant order which adorns the lower two floors. In designing the façade to the courtyard Palladio was influenced by the façade of Baldassare Peruzzi’s Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne, a building Chambers also studied and drew (see cats.298 and 547-548). The sheet has been trimmed along the top edge leaving a fragment of an inscription, and along the right-hand edge removing the outer part of the window surround. Chambers has included profiles of the mouldings on this elevation.

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
7074:4

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 createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest