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Preface
Outline of the Categories of Information
Introduction
Building a Common Framework for Catalogue Entries
Implementing a Common Framework
Introduction
Organization of the Guidelines
Groups/Items
Subjects/Built Works
People/Corporate Bodies
Geographic Locations
Bibliographic Sources
Introduction
Group Entries
Volume (Sketchbook) Entry
Item Entries
Glossary
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
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A Guide to the Description of Architectural Drawings


Volume (Sketchbook) Entry


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
Adam / drawings from sketchbook

Adam / drawings from sketchbook


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