"Sir William Chambers sits in profile to the left at a small round table; on it is a house of cards which is falling in pieces. From his pocket protrudes a paper inscribed 'Art of', scored through, followed by 'Grant of Parlt'. Beside him on the ground (right) is a large book or portfolio: 'Art of Building and Rebuilding or Palladia improved by S---W---C'. Other papers (left) are 'Affidavit It was only a crack signed - Adam [and] Wyat' and 'Bills for the repairing S. H." On the wall are three pictures: (left to right) (1) a rock entitled 'Inigo Jones', (2) a picture in a broken frame: 'The House that Jack built', a view of the north (Strand) front of Somerset House, (3) 'A Ruin A View on the Thames', a picture of the south front of Somerset House in ruins."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Great architect modelling, Sr W- in his study, and Sir William in his study
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: House of cards -- Furniture: round pedestal tables -- Pictures amplifying subject: Somerset House -- Parliament grants -- River Thames -- Affidavits -- Reference to cracks in the Somerset House structure -- Allusion to Inigo Jones's work on Somerset House -- Allusion to Robert Adam, 1728-1792 -- Allusion to James Adam, 1730-1794 -- Allusion to Sir John Thynne, d. 1580 -- Allusion to Andrea Palladio, 1508-1580., and Watermark: fleur-de-lis on crowned shield with initials GR below.
