Architectural Design
18th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Elevation of a girandole by John Yenn (1750-1821) from the office of leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). This drawing almost certainly follows a design by Chambers. The mirror of the sconce is pear shaped and bordered by two sinuous gilded-wood palm fronds that cross asymmetrically at the top. At the bottom of the mirror, the two stems are tied with ribbon. Below this is a lion mask. The lion is holding in its mouth the stems of two serpentine foliate branches, which hold a pair of candles.
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 watercolour. Laid on to a nineteenth-century backing sheet which has been partly removed. |
Brief description | Elevation of a girandole, 18th century, John Yenn (1750-1821) office of Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). |
Physical description | Elevation of a girandole. The mirror of the sconce is pear shaped and bordered by two sinuous gilded-wood palm fronds that cross asymmetrically at the top. At the bottom of the mirror, the two stems are tied with ribbon. Below this is a lion mask. The lion is holding in its mouth the stems of two serpentine foliate branches, which hold a pair of candles. |
Dimensions |
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Production type | Design |
Object history | Bought from J. Starkie Gardner, 1910. |
Production | Attribution note: A drawing by John Yenn, following a design almost certainly by Chambers. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Elevation of a girandole by John Yenn (1750-1821) from the office of leading architect and designer Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). This drawing almost certainly follows a design by Chambers. The mirror of the sconce is pear shaped and bordered by two sinuous gilded-wood palm fronds that cross asymmetrically at the top. At the bottom of the mirror, the two stems are tied with ribbon. Below this is a lion mask. The lion is holding in its mouth the stems of two serpentine foliate branches, which hold a pair of candles. 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.
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Collection | |
Accession number | E.4983-1910 |
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Record created | June 30, 2009 |
Record URL |
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