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Plan of a building, possibly the New White Tower, Greenwich

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

It is possible that this sketch depicts a plan for the New White Tower, which was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh for his son. Writing in 1722 to Lord Carlisle about his son Charles, Vanbrugh says `...[he] is much pleas'd with a House I am building him in the Field at Greenh: it being a Tower of White Bricks, only one room and a closet on a floor.'

This drawing is part of the Vanbrugh Album from the Library at Elton Hall. 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
TitlePlan of a building, possibly the New White Tower, Greenwich (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen, ink, wash and watercolour
Brief description
Plan of a building, possibly the New White Tower, Greenwich; the Vanbrugh Album; circle of Sir John Vanbrugh; early 18th century.
Physical description
Plan of a building, possibly the New White Tower, with internal alterations indicated in red.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.2cm
  • Length: 25.7cm
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. 25, cat. 52.
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
(Inscribed in ink with measurements with some alterations in pencil.)
Object history
The New White Tower was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh for his son. Writing in 1722 to Lord Carlisle about his son Charles, Vanbrugh says `...[he] is much pleas'd with a House I am building him in the Field at Greenh: it being a Tower of White Bricks, only one room and a closet on a floor.' See Downes (1987).

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
Place depicted
Summary
It is possible that this sketch depicts a plan for the New White Tower, which was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh for his son. Writing in 1722 to Lord Carlisle about his son Charles, Vanbrugh says `...[he] is much pleas'd with a House I am building him in the Field at Greenh: it being a Tower of White Bricks, only one room and a closet on a floor.'

This drawing is part of the Vanbrugh Album from the Library at Elton Hall. 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.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • 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. 25, cat. 52.
  • Downes, K., Sir John Vanbrugh: A Biography, 1987, p. 346.
Collection
Accession number
E.2124:45-1992

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Record createdMarch 23, 2009
Record URL
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