John Soane

Sir John Soane (September 10th 1753 - January 20th 1837) was a British architect in the neo-classic tradition.

Wire of mason, Soane is born with Goring-One-Thames close to Reading in England. It initially follows studies of architecture near George Dance the Young person, then of Henry Holland while attending the courses exempted by the royal Académie of England where it entered in 1771. During its studies with the Academy, it gains there the medals of money in 1772 and gold in 1776, then a purse for a study trip in 1777 with which it remains in Italy where it works out its style.

With Rome, Soane meets the bishop of Derry, Frederick Augustus Hervey which it accompanies with Ireland, but not finding there work, it turns over to England in 1780. It settles in the area of the East Anglia where it assembles a small cabinet of architecture.

In 1788, it succeeds Robert Taylor at the post of architect attached ( Architect and Surveyor ) to the Banque of England, the building of the bank being its most famous work. Following this building site, its cabinet meets success and itself receives the distinctions of Associate Royal Academician ( MACAW ) in 1795, then of Royal Academician ( RA ) in 1802. He becomes professor of architecture to the Royal Academy in 1806, a station which he preserves until his death.

In 1792, Soane buys a house to the 12 Lincoln' S Inn Fields with London and uses it as hearth and library, but also to organize receptions intended for its potential customers. Between 1794 and 1824, Soane transforms and increases the house by integrating the two adjacent properties, in order to try out its architectural ideas there, but also to preserve its collection, always increasing, of antiquities. Indeed, thanks to the prosperity of its cabinet, Soane can gather valuable articles like the sarcophagus of Séthi Ier, Roman bronzes of Pompéi, several fabrics of Canaletto and a whole of paintings of William Hogarth. In 1833, it decides to make donations of its house and the collection which it shelters and obtains a decision of the British Parliament transforming its house into museum, after its death, current the Sir John Soane' S Museum.

The cabinet of architect of Soane is a great success, drawing many residences for the members of the British gentry . Except the building of the Bank of England, one him must the interior installation of the dining rooms of the 10 and 11 Downing Street, the official residences of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Finance, the Picture gallery of Dulwich in London, the prototype of the majority of the modern picture galleries, and his country house, Pitshanger Manor, today with Ealing in large London.

Soane is made knight in 1831. He dies in London in 1837 and its body is buried in the tomb which he itself drew in the garden of the church Old St Pancras.

November 15th 1821 -->

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