GRINLING GIBBONS ONLINE

Design for Chimney Piece with Putti and Wreath 

Creator(s):   Grinling Gibbons 1648-1721

Date:    Undated, but datable1689-94

Accession Number:   SM 110/24

Dimensions:   403mm x 217mm

Materials:   Pen and brown ink over graphite under-drawing, with yellow ochre and grey washes and ruled graphite shading over the yellow ochre on the wall panel; on laid paper.

Location:   Sir John Soane's Museum

Credit Line (copyright notice for material) :   © Sir John Soane's Museum

Online Catalogue Entry :    http://collections.soane.org/OBJECT295

Design for Chimney Piece with Putti and Wreath © Sir John Soane's Museum

NOTES ON THE ARTWORK

Design for a chimney-piece with putti and wreath. While the putti would have been in full relief, probably in gilded wood, the vase of flowers would have been flattened in form and three-quarters round. The ruled graphite over-drawing on the yellow walling indicates either the surface sheen of a gilt damask or brocade, or a more solid surface of glazed appearance. This could be in mosaic, as noted by Gibbons on 10, below (110/47). On both drawings the cornice profile is tentatively drawn, first in graphite, then in pen. Gibbons is experimenting with the outlines of the cornice, which may suggest that both drawings are relatively early within this group of colour-washed designs.

Literature: Wren Society, IV, pl. 37, top.

Digitisation of the Drawings Collection has been made possible through the generosity of the Leon Levy Foundation.

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