Conceptual drawing by Wright

Macrodex · Post by **Macrodex** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 8:38 pm

I found a proposed plan by Wright for a studio for Webster Tomlinson that is not included in Taschen -- in fact, the project isn't even listed in Taschen. It's a simple single-story plan and touches of early Wright, of course.

SREcklund · Post by **SREcklund** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:22 pm

Found _where_?

Rood · Post by **Rood** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:24 pm

Interesting. Where did you find this plan. It's obviously a FLLW design .. and that's his signature, and the sketch is from his hand.

However, the studio was designed for Mr. M.R. Lowell, not for Webster Tomlinson. Wright and Tomlinson were briefly partners, apparently during 1901-02. Both were architects. See the fourth paragraph down:

http://www.pbs.org/wbgriffin/wright.htm

pharding · Post by **pharding** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:31 pm

I am curious also as to where you found it. I stumbled across it also years ago, but I forgot where I saw it.

Macrodex · Post by **Macrodex** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:31 pm

I seriously can't remember where. I tend to just randomly look up Wright things and they pop-out.

It was probably from an auction website, if I had to guess.

pharding · Post by **pharding** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:37 pm

http://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/co ... a/79799493

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 11:10 pm

One wonders what Mr Lowell's son was or did, to gain Wright's notice . . .

SDR

pharding · Post by **pharding** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 5:45 am

That sketch is very cool. Frank Lloyd Wright personally drew phenomenally well. Even if he didn't produce a drawing personally but supervised it, his involvement at that level led to production of a superior drawing.

Every Architect that I personally knew that fell into the great and near-great category could draw really, really well. By draw I mean manually produce great hand sketches of ideas, concepts, details, designs, etc. Being able to produce computer renderings is not remotely close to the value of being able to manually draw well for an Architect to produce high quality architectural works and projects.

goffmachine · Post by **goffmachine** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:12 am

I can bearly read anything.
I think I see the words main light near big window and also porch.
and studio.also fireplace. and seat..
can anyone else make out the writing?
I would love to make a clearer sketch of it if I could know more of the deatils.

Post by **pmahoney** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:33 am

I looked at this original at the Columbia University libraries last year. I believe Edgar Tafel published it in his first book.

pharding · Post by **pharding** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 9:33 am

Is it this book? Apprentice to Genius: Years with Frank Lloyd Wright

Macrodex · Post by **Macrodex** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 9:44 am

For goffmachine, I'll write what the image says:

My Dear Mr. Lowell:

We never submit competitive sketches. We offer this suggestion in your case, however, as a compliment to your son whose work I admire very much. If the suggestion is valuable, you are welcome to it. You ask what it would be likely to cost, and of course it would be a mere guess with any architect,- there are so many unknown factors. You are probably as good a judge as I am,- say, $1000.00. If you want us to carry out the design with details, we would charge you $100.00 for complete plans.

Truly,
Frank Lloyd Wright

To
Mr. M. H. Lowell,
Manhattan, NY
January 30, 1901.

jmcnally · Post by **jmcnally** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 9:45 am

goffmachine wrote:I can bearly read anything.
I think I see the words main light near big window and also porch.
and studio.also fireplace. and seat..
can anyone else make out the writing?
I would love to make a clearer sketch of it if I could know more of the deatils.

These may help. I read these in the building's interior -
"20 x 20 studio"
"Possible __ __"
"Toilet"
"Reception __"
"__ porch"

goffmachine · Post by **goffmachine** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:02 am

Thanks jm.

Im guesing those are thin wood walls inside. separating the toilet from large space and also reception area?
Im wondering what FLLW work from the same era would be a good reference for cosmetics such as the window details and cross lacice leaded windows?

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:16 am

Mr Wright's handwriting isn't always easy to read.

The note doesn't appear in "Apprentice to Genius," nor are the names Lowell and Tomlinson found in the index. Keep looking . . . ?

The sketch in the note is a nice one. Not all of Mr Wright's sketches were meant for viewing outside the studio; the ugly little example below could have been made to inform Marion Mahony of his intentions for her drawing of Cheney, as the point of view is virtually identical to that of her masterful perspective (although the details of the front wall are not). Wright's estimation of his own work apparently permitted him to include the scribble in his late A Testament (p 52) -- where he calls it the "first sketch":

Goffmachine, possible precedents for form and/or detail include the early Unitarian Chapel design of 1887 or the Winslow Stable of 1892; following the Lowell sketch would be the Hillside Home School of 1902.

http://www.savewright.org/wright_chat/v ... hp?p=57704

SDR

Wright Chat

Conceptual drawing by Wright

Conceptual drawing by Wright

Lowell residence