Architectural Drawing
late 18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The State Dressing Room has the only major ceiling from Melbourne House to survive today.
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.
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 green and yellow washes |
| Brief description | Plan of the State Dressing Room Ceiling for Melbourne House, Westminster for the 1st Lord Melbourne; William Chambers |
| Physical description | Plan of the State Dressing Room Ceiling for Melbourne House, Westminster for the 1st Lord Melbourne. This design for it shows a central rosette within a star-shaped motif contained within a circle decorated with a Greek-key pattern. Outside there are four vases, aligned to the centre lines of the walls and linked to the centre with acanthus scrolls. The delicate yellow and green colour scheme reflects the restrained taste and elegance of the interiors. (Scale: 4 9/16 in. to 10ft.) |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | Registered in Museum in 1857. |
| Historical context | The State Dressing Room has the only major ceiling to survive today. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The State Dressing Room has the only major ceiling from Melbourne House to survive today. 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. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 2216:40 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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