Designs for the ceilings of the Saloon at 44 Berkeley Square and the great Room at 22 Arlington Street, London

designed by William Kent (1685-1748)

RIBA Library Drawings and Archives Collections

mid to late 1740s

William Kent was the leading English designer during the first half of the 18th century. Initially a painter, he designed buildings, parks and gardens, furniture and metalwork and even the King's State Barge. This collection of 4 drawings relates to two important commissions: 44 Berkeley Square which is still considered the finest 18th century townhouse in London and 22 Arlington Street designed for the Prime Minister, Henry Pelham. The Berkeley Square drawing shows the pictorial enrichments of the ceiling of the saloon, while the three drawings from Arlington St demonstrate how Kent toyed with Mannerist ideas. The group strongly complements the RIBA's existing holdings of Kent material including the account books for 22 Arlington St.

• Artists Include:
• Stephen Wright

• Medium: pen & ink on watercolour on paper
• Dimensions: various
• Art Fund Grant: £10000 ( Total: £40,000)
• ArtFunded in: 2008
• Vendor: Lowell Libson

Provenance

Private collection, Paris; Picard, Audap, Solenet & Associes avec Patrick Bayser, Paris-Drouot Richelieu, 2001; Lowell Libson.

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