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Plan of The Nunnery, Greenwich

Design
ca. 1719-1720 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This was the first of the new houses after Vanbrugh Castle which the architect built on Vanbrugh Fields in Greenwich. It was already known as `The Nunnery' when William Stukely sketched it in 1721. Vanbrugh probably built this house for his brother Philip, who lived in it when on leave from the Navy. It was demolished in 1911. An elevation of the Nunnery in E.2124.168-1992 shows the central block with seven bays separated by walled yards from two extensions of a single bay each.

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 The Nunnery, Greenwich (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen, ink and wash
Brief description
Plan of The Nunnery, Greenwich; the Vanbrugh Album; office of Sir John Vanbrugh; ca. 1719-1720.
Physical description
Plan of The Nunnery, Greenwich, showing projected additions at either end. Vaulting is indicated in one room. Scale 1 inch to 3 feet.
Dimensions
  • Height: 27.7cm
  • Length: 41.1cm
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. 45, cat. 113.
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
(Inscribed in ink with scale. Numbered with dimensions.)
Object history
This was the first of the new houses after Vanbrugh Castle which the architect built on Vanbrugh Fields in Greenwich. It was already known as `The Nunnery' when William Stukely sketched it in 1721. Vanbrugh probably built this house for his brother Philip, who lived in it when on leave from the Navy. It was demolished in 1911 (see Downes, 1987, p 434). See E.2124.168-1992.

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.
Subject depicted
Summary
This was the first of the new houses after Vanbrugh Castle which the architect built on Vanbrugh Fields in Greenwich. It was already known as `The Nunnery' when William Stukely sketched it in 1721. Vanbrugh probably built this house for his brother Philip, who lived in it when on leave from the Navy. It was demolished in 1911. An elevation of the Nunnery in E.2124.168-1992 shows the central block with seven bays separated by walled yards from two extensions of a single bay each.

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 object
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. 45, cat. 113.
  • Downes, K., Sir John Vanbrugh: A Biography, 1987, p. 434.
Collection
Accession number
E.2124:77-1992

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Record createdMarch 24, 2009
Record URL
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