John Soane: Difference between revisions

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'''Sir John Soane''' ([[10 September]] [[1753]] - [[20 January]] [[1837]]) was a [[Britain|British]] [[architect]] who specialised in the [[Neo-Classical]] tradition. He was born at [[Goring-on-Thames]] near [[Reading, England|Reading]], the son of a bricklayer,. andHe trained as an architect, first under [[George Dance the Younger]], and then [[Henry Holland]], whilst also studying at the [[Royal Academy]] Schools, which he entered in [[1771]]. In [[1778]], duringDuring his studies at the Royal Academy, Soanehe waswon awardedthe Academy's silver medal (1772), gold medal (1776) and finally a travelling scholarship in [[1777]], which he spent on developing his style in [[Italy]].

When in [[Rome]], Soane met the builder and [[Bishop of Derry]] [[Frederick Hervey]], whom he accompanied to [[Ireland]]. However, he failed to find work there, so returned to England in [[1780]] and settled in [[East Anglia]] where he established a small architectural practice.

In [[1788]], he became Architect and Surveyor to the [[Bank of England]], the exterior of the Bank being his most famous work. The job, and especially the personal contacts arising from it, increased the success of Soane's practice , and he became [[ARA]] in [[1795]], then full [[RA]] in [[1802]]. He was made Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy in [[18091806]], which he held until death. Then, in [[1814]], he was appointed to the [[Board of Works]], where he remained until [[1832]], when he retired. In [[1831]] Soane received a [[knighthood]].

In [[1792]] Soane bought a house at 12 Lincoln's Inn Fields, [[London]]. He used the house as his home and library, but also entertained potential clients in the drawing room. Between [[1794]] and [[1824]] Soane remodelled and extended the house into two neighbouring properties — partly to experiment with architectural ideas, and partly to house his growing collection of antiquities and architectural salvage. As his practice prospered, Soane was able to collect objects worthy of the [[British Museum]] including the sarcophagus of [[Seti I]], Roman bronzes from [[Pompeii]], several [[Canaletto]]'s and a collection of paintings by [[William Hogarth|Hogarth]]. In [[1833]] obtained an [[Act of Parliament]], to bequethed the house and collection to the British Nation to be made into museum of architecture, now the [[Soane Museum|Sir John Soane's Museum]].

Among Soane's works are the dining rooms of both numbers [[10 Downing Street|10]] and [[11 Downing Street]], the [[Dulwich Picture Gallery]], [[Pitshanger Manor]] in [[Ealing]], and his own house, now the [[Soane Museum]].

During his time in London, Soane ran a lucrative architectural practice, remodelling and designing country homes for the landed gentry. Among Soane's most notable works are the dining rooms of both numbers [[10 Downing Street|10]] and [[11 Downing Street]] for the Prime Minister and Chancellor of Britain, the [[Dulwich Picture Gallery]] which is the architype for most modern art galleries, and his country home at [[Pitshanger Manor]] in [[Ealing]].

In 1832 Soane received a [[knighthood]], and in [[1833]] obtained an [[Act of Parliament]], by which his house was made a national museum of architecture.

Soane died in [[London]] in 1837.