Lot Description
Office of Sir Charles Barry, R.A., F.R.S. (1795-1860)
Design for Highclere Castle, Hampshire
with inscription 'STUDY IN ELIZABETHAN STYLE/BY SIR CHARLES BARRY' (upper left, on a label pinned to the sheet)
pencil and grey wash, watermark 'J WHATMAN/1842', with annotations in the hand of Sir Charles Barry, unframed
25 7/8 x 21½ in. (65.8 x 54.6 cm.); and a drawing on tracing paper depicting the wyvern motif from the Caenarvon coat of arms
Executed circa 1842 (2)
Special Notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
Pre-Lot Text
The Property of the Late Humphrey Whitbread, Esq., sold by Order of the Executors
For a note of Sir Charles Barry, see lot 92.
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Lot Notes
Barry remodeled Highclere Castle for the 3rd Earl of Caenarvon from 1838-40, the same period as he was working on the designs for the Houses of Parliament. The interior of the house, begun in 1840 was unfinished when the 3rd Earl died in 1849 and it was not until 4th Earl married in 1861 that work recommenced. The present drawing would appear to be a study for the central tower and is close to the finished design.
We are grateful to Lady Alexandra Wedgwood for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.
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