The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:          Samuel Tredwll Skidmore (b. 1866)                            

Title:               Architectural drawings

Dates:             1887-1889

Call No.:         Col. 309

Acc. No.:         73x25-73x34

Quantity:        10 items

Location:        3 E 9

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Samuel Tredwell Skidmore was born in 1866, the second son of John Drake Skidmore.  He was the namesake of his grandfather, a dry-goods merchant in New York City.  Skidmore studied architecture at Columbia University, but did not continue in the profession.

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The collection consists of ten pencil and watercolor drawings done by Skidmore while a student at Columbia University.  Ground plans, elevations, and longitudinal sections are represented; however, they lack scale.  A variety of classical styles is shown in various public buildings and tombs.  A Dutch Baroque house is also featured.             

 

 

ORGANIZATION

           

The drawings are in accession number order.

 

 

PROVENANCE

           

Purchased from the Old Print Shop, New York City.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Architecture - Study and teaching.

            Buildings - Designs and plans.

            Architecture, Domestic.

            Architectural drawing.

            Room layout (Dwellings).

            Watercolor painting.

            Architectural drawings.

            Students.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 3 E 9

 

 

73x25  “Examination Design, Jan. 31st, 18889”

            Partial plan, partial front elevation, partial longitudinal section, and tile detail of a three-bay Romanesque revival building.  The ground floor of stone rests on a plinth and has a round-headed entrance door approached by a balustrade double staircase; the flanking round-headed windows are detailed without surmounting molding.  The second floor, divided from the second by a frieze and cornice molding is of brick with stone quoin blocks at the corners.  Pen and watercolor.  No scale.  Printed in pencil:  S.T. Skidmore Jan. 31st 1889.  Examination Design  3 hours.

 

73x26  "Design for a Temple Tomb," May 28th, 1889. 

            Ground plan, front and side elevations, and longitudinal section.  Prostyle and distyle temple in the Tuscan order.  Pencil and watercolor.  No scale.  On reverse:  S.T. Skidmore

 

73x27  Plan, partial elevation, and partial longitudinal section of an unknown Renaissance style building three and one-half stories in height.  Details include a Palladian arcade of the Doric order.  Fenestration of second floor has rectangular windows with flat pediments, third floor windows are arcaded with flat pediments, and attic story has rectangular windows with triangular pediments.  The staircase shows superimposed orders from first to third floors.  Pencil, ink, and watercolor.  No scale.  Printed on reverse:  S.T. Skidmore October 17th 1888.

 

73x28  Elevation rendering of a neoclassical classical two and one-half story eleven-bay building.  An advancing three-bay central pavilion bears round-headed doors and windows and is pedimented atop the second floor.  All other fenestration is rectangular with flat pediments on consoles at the first floor and flat pediments above a frieze at the second.  The first floor portico runs the entire width of the building and is supported by an unfluted Corinthian order resting on a stylobate; the second floor is delineated with a full-width balustrade and four sculptures.  The narrower attic story is articulated with pilasters and neo-classical swags and ribbons.  The roof is red ridged-metal.  A partial longitudinal section is at the right.  Pen and ink and watercolor.  No scale.  Printed in pencil at bottom right:  S.T. Skidmore.

 

73x29  Ground plan, front and side elevation and cross section of a one-story, neo- classical building (perhaps a museum?).  Approached by stairs, its Ionic entrance portico with a vestibule screen of three arches gives onto an apsidal space, flanked by two rectangular rooms, one of which is windowless, the other has three round-headed windows.  Blind arcading enlivens the upper part of the walls.  Intersecting red metal-ridged gable roofs are penetrated by sky lights.  Pen and ink and watercolor.  No scale.  Signed:  S.T. Skidmore Dec. 19th 1897.

 

73x30  Ground plans and front elevation of a large two-story, 13 bay neo-classical building.  The rectangular fenestration is accented with flat pediments above and recessed panels below; the corners of the building with quoin blocks.  The center three bays, with arched windows and door, form an advancing central entrance pavilion which is accented with quoin blocks at the corners and a balustrade below the second floor windows.  A low hipped red ridged-metal roof surmounts the composition which rises from a low foundation.  A large entrance stair-hall, an apsidal auditorium, and variously sized rooms comprise the first floor plan.  The second floor plan shows a balcony over the auditorium and several small rooms, some of them en suite.  Pen and ink and watercolor.  No scale.  Printed in lower right:  S. T. Skidmore Jan. 23rd 1888.  Watermark:  J. Whatman.

 

73x31  Ground plan, front and side elevations of a neo-classical stone mausoleum.  Sited on a hill, it is approached by three flights of stairs articulated with two retaining walls of stone.  Pencil and watercolor.  No scale.  Printed at lower right:  S.T. Skidmore.  May 29th 1888.  Watermark:  J. Whatman 1887

 

73x32  Ground plan, front and side elevations, section, and roof plan of a neo-classical pavilion in the Corinthian order.  The rectangular building, resting on a plinth with stairs on three sides, bears a solid wall on one long side with columns opposite and paired columns at the ends.  Porticoes announce the entrances at each end and at the center of the long columned side.  Intersecting gable roofs are of red ridged-metal.  A low balustrade fence runs in front of the building and walls surmounted with urns are at each side.  The front elevation is rendered in a vast mountainous landscape.  Pen and ink and watercolor.  No scale.  Signed:  S. T. Skidmore.  Nov. 20th l887.  24 hours.

 

73x33  Floor plan, plot plan, and front and side elevations of a two and one-half story, three-bay, Dutch Baroque house.  The high stone foundation is surmounted by first and second story brick and stone walls.  The central entrance is approached by a stair and flanked by urns of flowers on pedestals.  A bracketed cornice separates the block from a high hipped roof with dormers, decorated with irregularly formed pediments and scrolls, tall chimneys, and metal roof ornaments. 

Pencil, watercolor, and ink. No scale.  Signed:  S. T. Skidmore Dec 8th 1887.  Watermark:  J. Whatman.

 

 

73x34  Interior rendering of a Baroque great hall.  The two-story plus mansard roofed attic story includes:  paired Corinthian and Tuscan columns, decorated entablatures, arches springing from impost blocks, triangular pediments, complex balustrade staircases, niches with sculpture, et. al.  Pen and ink and pencil.  No scale, but two figures are inked in.