London in the Soane A TRAIL THROUGH SIR JOHN SOANE’S MUSEUM This trail through Sir John Soane’s Museum takes you around the Museum on a London theme. You will see buildings, standing and vanished, imagined and fragmen tary. You will come face to face with London people; artists and architects, kings, and heroes, rogues and adventurers. Here are evocations of great events in the capital and aspects of London life, noble and sensational. Follow the trail from object to object with the aid of the plans on pages two and three; some objects are large and impressive, others small and intimate - they are all part of Soane’s personal and amazing collection. The trail begins in the Library ---Dining Look above the government buildings model and Turn around and look at the painting opposite Room you will see you As you enter the Dining Room you will find 2.2.2. A London artist: portrait of Sir 3. The Royal AcademyAcademy:: ‘: ‘Love‘ Love and the first two items featured in this trail opposite John Soane by Sir Thomas BeaBeauty’uty’ by Sir Joshua Reynolds, you, above the fireplace Lawrence, 1828-1828 -2929 Lawrence, 1828 --2929 c.c.c. 1785 1.1.1. Government buildings: a model of the Board of Trade and Privy Sir Thomas Lawrence was the leading British Council Offices, Whitehall portrait painter of the early 19th century, producing accomplished and flattering portraits of royalty and all the leading personalities of Soane’s day from his studio in Russell Square (where he lived from 1813 until his death). He was known for his charming personality and ease with sitters. This painting was commissioned by Soane in 1828. It cost him £420 – much less than the 700 guineas recorded as Lawrence’s standard charge for a portrait in the late 1820s. Perhaps Lawrence reduced his fee because Soane was a good friend. As Soane recorded later this work was ‘almost the last picture painted by that This painting, alternatively known as The Snake distinguished polished gentleman’. Lawrence in the Grass , was purchased by Soane from the This elaborate plaster model shows the died suddenly in 1830. scheme proposed by Soane in 1822 for the collection of Reynolds’ niece when it was sold construction of two buildings for the civil in 1821. Reynolds exhibited another version at service on Whitehall, either side of Downing the Royal Academy in 1784, which now hangs Street. The block to the right was to contain in the Tate Gallery, and also painted a third the Board of Trade and Privy Council Offices vari ant, now in the Hermitage in St and Soane intended its façade to be repeated Petersburg, Russia. Sir Joshua Reynolds was to the south, on the other side of Downing one of the most admired artists of 18th- century Europe. First President and one of the Street, to create a symmetrical arrangement. Only part of the northern (right-hand) founding members of the Royal Academy, he section was actually built so Soane’s symmetry had a great influence on public taste as well as was never achieved. After Soane’s death his on the next generation of artists. The building was remodelled by Sir Charles Barry Academy was founded in 1768 by King George to form the Treasury in 1846-47. Today it is III. This independent, privately-funded the Cabinet Office. Soane’s scheme also institution was led by eminent artists and envisaged the construction of great triumphal architects. Its purpose was to promote the arches at either end of Downing Street – creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the commemorative of the glorious victories, by Lawrence was President of the Royal Academy visual arts through exhibitions, education and sea and land, achieved by British valour. Once of Arts, from 1820 until his death. (See 3. The debate. The Academy’s first show was held in complete, this grandiose scheme would Royal Academy: ‘Love and Beauty’ by Sir Joshua 1769 in a building in Pall Mall and drew 18,000 persons at the price of one shilling provide an appropriate processional route for Reynolds, c. 1785 ) Soane was its Professor of the King to use on his way from Windsor to Architecture from 1806 to 1837, his friend each. An admission fee was charged to avoid Westminster for the State Opening of John Flaxman was Professor of Sculpture and ‘improper persons…’ attending the exhibitions. Parliament. Soane noted that ‘The Buildings another close friend, J M W Turner, was The Academy’s annual exhibition of works for in this design are so arranged that when Professor of Perspective. The Academy was sale, held at Somerset House from 1781, completed, a view of the north entrance into central to Soane’s personal and professional became one of the obligatory social events of Westminster Abbey Church would be life. Opposite this portrait it is no coincidence the London season. As the Academy flourished and the number of collectors grew, obtained from Whitehall.’ This model, that Soane hung a painting by Sir Joshua displayed in a place of honour on the dining Reynolds, also a celebrated portrait painter, the art market expanded and the number of room mantelpiece, immediately advertised the Royal Academy’s first and most famous London shows increased. Temporary Soane’s status as a Government Architect to President. See also 28. Bust of Sir Thomas exhibitions started to be held at the Academy visitors entering his main reception room. Lawrence. in 1870 and are still popular today. 1 In the Library part of the room, facing the To the right of the Chinese chairs, in a glass case square and against the bookcases on your right on the pedestal under the projecting ‘canopy’ you will see a row of which divides the two halves of the room 4. Eight Chinese cchairshairs 5. Model of tthehe Soane fffamilyfamily tttombtomb Superintendent of Works in the same year . He had read works by many advanced French Enlightenment thinkers, some of whom were Masons, and came to appreciate the Masonic love of ceremony and fraternal affection. Note the tiny rosettes and the signs of the zodiac on Soane erected this family tomb in 1816 in the the glass panes – exact replicas in miniature of Burial Ground of St-Giles-in-the-Fields (now the stained glass manufactured by William St Pancras Gardens behind King’s Cross Collins for the Hall. You will see a drawing of Station), following the death of his wife, Eliza, The eight chairs against the west wall of the the design for the interior of this building later the previous November. He and his eldest son in the trail (14. Design for the Freemasons’ Hall). Library were made in China c. 1720, at least in John are also buried there. The design is part to designs sent out from England. They characteristic of Soane’s architecture at the Look through the windowindoww on your left into the are of rosewood and inlaid with mother-of- height of his career. The shallow dome on a pearl. They bear the arms of Sir Gregory Page, Monument Court square base was a favourite form which is also of Wricklemarsh, Kent, impaled with those of beautifully incorporated into the Breakfast On the wall opposite you, on the left: his wife, Martha, née Kenward, of Yalding, Room ceiling which you will see later. also in Kent. The chairs come from their Incidentally, this design also served as 777.7. A vanished London bbuildinguilding vanished Palladian mansion at Wricklemarsh, inspiration for the iconic red telephone box in one of the great private palaces of the 18th the 1920s See also 30. Watercolour of the Soane century, on the outskirts of London at Family Tomb Blackheath. Unfortunately, the contents of the house were auctioned off, by Sir Gregory’s Pass through the door to the right of the window nephew and heir Sir Gregory Page Turner, in on the south, through the Study and on into the 1783. The house was eventually dismantled second small space, the Dressing Room . and left in ruins in the 1790s. Soane went there on 29 May 1787 and bought salvageable Above you building materials on behalf of one of his clients. These splendid chairs are first 666.6. FreemasonFreemasonssss’’’’ Hall lantern model recorded in Soane’s collection in 1822, when they are shown in views of his first picture In the ceiling is a lantern light , the central part gallery. They have stood in their current of which is a model for the domical light in position since around 1825: lined up in a row Freemasons’ Hall built by Soane in 1828-31. This is a fragment saved from a local building against the wall, they were presumably This was demolished in 1863. Soane was a demolished in Soane’s time (in 1817). It is a intended only for display. Soane obviously friend of the Duke of Sussex, Grand Master of pilaster in the form of ‘term’ figure, of Anglo- valued them highly, placing them in his the United Grand Lodge and became a Mason Flemish style from Furnival’s Inn, a mid-17th- principal reception room. in 1813, being appointed Grand century building in Holborn. GROUND FLOOR BASEMENT 2 Walk through the narrow passageway ahead, Soane ingeniously designed the Picture Room ttturnturn right, walk through the CorridorCorridor,,,, and to house far more pictures than would at first enter the Picture Room appear possible; the walls on the north, west and south are fitted with large ‘movable planes’ on, and Hanging in two rows on the wall ahead of you is behind which, are mmoreore pictures a set of eight paintings When the planes on the south side of the room 888.8.