Topographical or design drawing for a gothic ruin: perspective, 1770

John Yenn RA (1750 - 1821)

RA Collection: Art

This is a rare drawing in the Yenn collection because it is not only freehand, as opposed to an architect's ruled elevation, but would appear to be topographical rather than an architectural design. In signing the sheet Yenn has used the term 'delt' (an abbreviation of 'delineavit' meaning drawn by) instead of his usual 'invt and delt', which suggests that he did not 'invent' (i.e. design) the building that it depicts.

The view is of a ruined house, or less likely, a church, showing a pair of large gothic tracery windows, crenelation and broken spires. A tumbled down brick wall can be seen within. Nearby is an arcade of pointed arches, in ruin too. The location is unidentified.