The Sir John Soane Museum in London is dedicated to the life and work of English architect Sir John Soane, known for his neoclassical style. The museum’s collection includes architectural drawings, sculptures, paintings, and antiquities. Established in 1833, the museum was founded by Parliament to prevent Soane’s estranged son from inheriting his estate. The museum offers educational programs and exhibitions, and admission has always been free. Soane renovated the museum’s building, which was originally three houses on Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
Established in 1833, the Sir John Soane Museum is dedicated to the life, work and personal collections of English architect Sir John Soane, housed in his former home and library in London, England. Sir John Soane worked in the neoclassical architectural style in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is probably best known for designing the Bank of England on Threadneedle Street in London. The museum’s collection includes architectural drawings and models, neoclassical sculptures and paintings. Antiquities are also on display, including the alabaster sarcophagus of Seti I installed by Soane in the basement of the house.
Sir John Soane’s Museum was established by Parliament in 1833 while the architect was still alive. The founding of the museum enabled Sir John Soane to ensure that his estranged son George would not inherit the architect’s estate. The Parliamentary Act stipulated that the house and the properties it contains would be given to a board of trustees to manage it on behalf of the British nation. The trustees were required to keep the house overlooking Lincoln’s Inn Fields exactly as it was at Soane’s death in 1837.
The museum’s collection includes all of the architect’s personal possessions. Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities such as bronzes, vases and decorative fragments give life to gems, engraved seals and other medieval and Renaissance objects. There is sculpture by John Flaxman, as well as medals, watches and weapons. Soane collected stained glass, fossils and mummified animals, as well as Peruvian pottery and domestic porcelain. Highlights of his paintings include three Canalettos and works by William Hogarth.
The bulk of the Sir John Soane Museum’s collection comprises the architect’s drawings, prints and models. In addition to his own work, he acquired bound volumes of drawings by Sir William Chambers, Robert and James Adam and other Italian and English architects. There are several architectural models of the Bank of England, as well as plaster and cork models of ancient buildings. The museum also maintains an archive of Soane’s business and personal records.
In addition to the permanent collection, the museum also hosts special exhibitions throughout the year. A recent exhibition highlighted François Fouquet’s plaster models of important buildings. Other past exhibitions include a retrospective of Mary Delany’s work and an exploration of Soane’s friendship with artist JMW Turner.
Education and outreach are important parts of the Sir John Soane Museum’s mission. Sir John Soane taught architecture at the Royal Academy and wanted his personal collection to educate and inspire future architects and the general public. To that end, the museum offers lectures, workshops and other programs aimed at everyone from children and families to students to adult architecture enthusiasts.
The museum building was originally three houses on Lincoln’s Inn Fields which Soane renovated from 1792 to 1824. He arranged most of his possessions throughout the house so that his Royal Academy students could visit and study his collection before and after giving lectures. In accordance with Soane’s aim of keeping his collection accessible to students and others interested in architecture, sculpture and painting, admission to the Sir John Soane Museum has always been free.
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