The standard Volume 1, and George III’s copy!
Coade Caryatids
Coade’s Erechtheion caryatids were clearly based on designs in The Antiquities of Athens, James ‘Athenian’ Stuart and Nicholas Revett’s masterful, multi-volume work. The self-described ‘painters and architects’ surveyed the ancient sites of Athens and produced prints of contemporary views of archaeological sites, as well as technical drawings of the architecture and statuary. It is a work of both beauty and practicality. A ‘how-to’ manual for Greek Revival architects and sculptors.
Mrs Coade was obviously a fan. The first volume came out in 1762 and her company produced a few of its designs. The majority of their classical catalogue is from the second volume, published in 1789 -- like these examples from Anglesey Abbey. The Abbey has six, in the garden on Coronation Avenue. They were probably created for Buckingham House on Pall Mall (now demolished) in 1793. The Coade versions are superior, of course -- they have complete arms!
Sir John Soane admired Coade caryatids. He used them on the Bank of England and on both of his homes. You can see them still on Sir John Soane’s Museum and Pitzhangor Manor. It wasn’t only statuary that the company copied from Antiquities. They produced ionic capitals with a honeysuckle design on the neck, petalled apex ornaments, festoons and friezes.