The following entry consists of core categories along with some optional categories.
Volume entry in display format:
Robert Adam, London, Edinburgh (1728–1792)
Robert Adam's Sketchbook
1749–50
Royal Institute of British Architects, London, Drawings Collection
(British Architectural Library), L12/1
White laid paper stitched into 44 pages; watermark: cut: crown and shield, lion with arrows,
VRYHEYT, PRO PATRIA EIUSQUE LIBERTATE, countermark GR; pencil; pen and black ink; pen and black ink over pencil; pen and brown ink
158 x 100 mm
Internal evidence (p. 13 dated May 1750) and external evidence (see, for example, Fleming, 1962, pp. 84–6) dates the sketchbook to 1749–50 when Robert Adam, after the death of his father in 1748, came from Edinburgh on an architectural tour of England. His interest in Decorated and Perpendicular Gothic, the Picturesque and English Palladianism, and in watercolour painting, are evident from his drawings and notes. Subjects include (p. 1) plan and section of a brewhouse; (pp. 11–12) plan and elevation of the Queens Hermitage in Richmond/Gardens; (pp. 24–25) caricatures of a man in a large wig. See also Inscriptions.
Reproductions: Country Life, CXXXIV, 1963, p. 439
Volume record from which the preceding display entry is drawn:
Group/Item Identification
REPOSITORY NAME: |
Royal Institute of British Architects |
REPOSITORY GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: |
England |
|
London |
ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT: |
Drawings Collection (British Architectural Library) |
GROUP/ITEM ID: |
L12/1 |
DESCRIPTIVE TITLE: |
Robert Adam's Sketchbook |
Document Classification
CATALOGUE LEVEL: |
volume |
DOCUMENT TYPE: |
architectural drawings
figure studies |
Origin/Maker
RESPONSIBILITY DESCRIPTION: |
Robert Adam |
NAME: |
Adam, Robert |
ROLE (BROAD) : |
Maker |
ROLE (NARROW) : |
Draughtsman |
DESCRIPTIVE DATE : |
1728–1792 |
EARLIEST DATE: |
1728 |
LATEST DATE: |
1792 |
LOCUS/LOCATION: |
England
London |
|
Scotland
Edinburgh |
Purpose
PURPOSE DESCRIPTION: |
design and topographical drawings, notes |
PURPOSE (BROAD) : |
design and construction documents
record documents
figure studies |
PURPOSE (NARROW) : |
topographical views |
Method of Representation/Point of View
METHOD/VIEW (BROAD) : |
plans
sections
elevations
perspective views |
Physical Characteristics
TECHNIQUE, MEDIUM, AND SUPPORT DESCRIPTION: |
White laid paper stitched into 44 pages; watermark: cut: crown and shield, lion with arrows, VRYHEYT, PRO PATRIA EIUSQUE LIBERTATE, countermark GR; pencil; pen and black ink; pen and black ink over pencil; pen and brown ink . |
TECHNIQUE : |
pen
pencil |
MEDIUM: |
ink
pencil |
SUPPORT: |
laid paper |
WATERMARK: |
watermarks |
INSCRIPTION: |
inscribed |
INSCRIPTION DESCRIPTION: |
(pp. 11–12) "the Queens Hermitage in Richmond / Gardens'; (p. 13) "Design for Pavilions to Lord Pembrokes House at / Wilton', signed and dated "R.A. Invt. Delint./May 1750'; (p. 36) [a list of things] "To Carry to Arderseer / Cambdens Britannia & Gibson / Builders Jewel / Estimator / Book of Memorandums / Case of Parallel Rulers / A Book or two of Architecture / My Book of Sketches / Colours in the Ivory Case / viz / Sap. Green / Carmine Gum'd / Gall Stone / Wood Sutt / Lead pencils. Hair pencils. Crow quills / Sketch of Johnies house / ; (p. 42) Prussian Blue / & Gall Stone, or / Dutch Pink / Makes a fine Green / for Grass & Trees / Vermilion & a Little Yellow are vastly / good for Buildings / & Light parts of / Rocks & Sky / Sap Green for trees & foreground / Indian Red for the Shades of Brick / Buildings |
SCALE: |
no scale |
DIMENSIONS DESCRIPTION: |
158 x 100 mm |
HEIGHT: |
158 |
WIDTH: |
100 |
UNIT OF MEASUREMENT: |
millimetres |
Date of Execution
DESCRIPTIVE DATE: |
1749–1750 |
EARLIEST DATE: |
1749 |
LATEST DATE: |
1750 |
Descriptive Note
Internal evidence (p. 13 dated "May 1750") and external evidence (see, for example, Fleming, 1962, pp. 84–6) date the sketchbook to 1749–50 when Robert Adam, after the death of his father in 1748, came from Edinburgh on an architectural tour of England. His interest in Decorated and Perpendicular Gothic, the Picturesque and English Palladianism, and in watercolour painting, are evident from his drawings and notes. Other subjects include (p. 1) plan and section of a brewhouse; (pp. 11–12) plan and elevation of 'the Queens Hermitage in Richmond/Gardens'.
Related Groups/Items
Drawings relating to the trip of 1749–1750 are at Blair Adam, Scotland.
Bibliographic References
PUBLISHED REPRODUCTIONS: |
Country Life, CXXXIV, 1963, p. 439 |
Provenance
FORMER OWNER NAME: |
Wellcome Historical Museum |
PROVENANCE DESCRIPTION: |
Presented by Wellcome Historical Museum, 1944 |
Subject/Built Work Identification
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK NAME: |
Richmond Gardens
Queen's Hermitage |
ALTERNATE SUBJECT/BUILT WORK NAME: |
Richmond Park
The Hermitage
Queen Caroline's Hermitage |
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK LOCATION: |
England
Surrey |
Subject/Built Work Characteristics
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK TYPE
(BY FUNCTION/FORM) : |
follies
hermitages
garden buildings |
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK DESCRIPTIVE DATE : |
1730; demolished 1775 |
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK EARLIEST DATE: |
1730 |
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK LATEST DATE: |
1775 |
Related People/Corporate Bodies
RELATED PERSON/CORPORATE BODY : |
William Kent |
RELATED PERSON/CORPORATE BODY NAME : |
Kent, William |
RELATED ROLE : |
architect |
Subject/Built Work Identification
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK NAME: |
Richmond Gardens Bridge |
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK LOCATION: |
England
Surrey |
Subject/Built Work Characteristics
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK TYPE (BY FUNCTION/FORM) : |
bridges
parks |
Subject/Built Work Identification
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK NAME: |
Wilton House
Pavilions |
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK LOCATION : |
England
Wiltshire |
Subject/Built Work Characteristics
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK TYPE (BY FUNCTION/FORM): |
pavilions
country houses |
STYLE: |
Neo-Palladian |
Subject/Built Work Characteristics
SUBJECT/BUILT WORK TYPE (BY FUNCTION/FORM): |
breweries |
|
