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Design for a Library at Mamhead

Robert Adam

1768

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism 18th Century Architectural

Dominant colour

Design for a Library at Mamhead is a 1768 by Robert Adam, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Robert Adam
When & what style?: 1768 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This drawing shows a library design, with a central room and two smaller rooms on either side. The central room has a large window and a fireplace, while the smaller rooms have bookshelves and desks. The drawing is done in a detailed and precise style, with intricate lines and shading. It appears to be a plan for a real library, with careful attention to the layout and design of the space. If you're interested in learning more about this style of drawing, you might want to look into the work of Adam, Robert.

The story of this work

Overview

The drawing presents four elevations of a library interior arranged around a central floor plan, with walls fully fitted with bookshelves containing books. The bookcases are depicted as flat-topped aedicules framed by Adam-style Ionic pilasters, and the entablature features a diamond (daiper) motif that is echoed in the ceiling cornice’s frieze. Classical relief panels are placed between the pilasters, topped by acroteria statuettes, while a framed scene of three figures sacrificing at a house is positioned above the chimneypiece.

Read the full account in the museum source.