Colen Campbell, 1676–1729, British, Unidentified Town House: Front Elevation, undated
- Title:
- Unidentified Town House: Front Elevation
- Additional Title(s):
- Design for a Town House
- Date:
- undated
- Materials & Techniques:
- Graphite, pen and wash within triple-ruled border on medium, slightly textured, cream laid paper
- Dimensions:
- Sheet: 12 5/16 x 19 1/4 inches (31.3 x 48.9 cm)
- Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Watermark: IV
- Credit Line:
- Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
- Copyright Status:
- Public Domain
- Accession Number:
- B1975.2.341
- Classification:
- Drawing & Watercolors-Architectural
- Collection:
- Prints and Drawings
- Subject Terms:
- architectural subject | Palladian | town houses
- Access:
- Accessible by appointment in the Study Room [Request]
Note: The Study Room is open by appointment. Please visit the Study Room page on our website for more details. - Link:
- https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:11951
- Export:
- XML
- IIIF Manifest:
- JSON
Colen Campbell’s drawing shows the front elevation of an unidentified town house characteristic of the architect’s interest in the Palladian style. A heavy, rusticated ground floor establishes a solid foundation, from which rises a principal story faced with windows framed by attenuated Corinthian columns and alternating segmental pediments. The attic is demarcated by square fenestration with shouldered architraves, while the whole facade is crowned by a full entablature and balustraded parapet. The urban palazzo was an important building type in Palladian architecture, and perhaps this drawing is an effort to introduce such buildings to England, although measuring 148 feet at its street front, it is unusually long for a Campbell town house. Indeed, the building reflects the Palladian hierarchical facade, with arcaded rustication and classical ornament. Campbell’s design, however, omits much of the ornament included in original Palladian schemes, resulting in a simpler yet more impactful facade. The design was probably never executed. Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2014
British Architectural Drawings (Yale Center for British Art) (Yale Center for British Art, 1982-04-21 - 1982-05-30) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition]
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