George Dance the Younger

George Dance the Younger RA ( born April 1, 1741 London, United Kingdom, † January 14, 1825 ) was a British architect, surveyor and painter.

Life and work

George Dance the Younger ( George Dance the Younger ) was the fifth and youngest son of the architect George Dance the Elder at the Chiswell Street in London to the world, where he attended St Paul's School. From December 1758 he broke from Gravesend on the Grand Tour. In Florence he met his brother Nathaniel, with whom he went on to Rome. At the Accademia di San Luca, he was concerned with the measurement and preparation of various drawings of ancient buildings in Rome. During his stay in Rome he made ​​contacts with numerous well-known personalities such as James Adam, Robert Mylne, Peter Grant and Giovanni Battista Piranesi. A 1762 submitted to the Accademia di Parma design for a public gallery in the classical style in 1763 won the gold medal. 1765 Dance returned back to London.

Back in London Dance began working with his father as an architect. His first project was the church of All Hallows -on -the-Wall, which was completed in 1767. After the death of his father in 1768 he succeeded him as Surveyor of London. In this role, he built many public buildings such as the construction of the Newgate Prison, the front of the Guild Hall, the Church of St Bartholomew -the -Less. Many of the buildings were designed by Dance now demolished, the Royal College of Surgeons, the Shakespeare Gallery and more.

Also in 1768 Dance was a founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts. Among his pupils were later famous architects of classicism as John Soane and Robert Smirke. On March 24, 1772, he married Mary Gurnell, with whom he had three children: Thomas ( 1773-1813 ), George ( 1778-1813 ) and Charles Webb ( 1785-1844 ). Mary died 1791 Dance From 1798 he turned increasingly to painting.; many of his works are owned by famous galleries such as the National Portrait Gallery.

1815 Dance moved from the active work as an architect back. His last years were marked by poor health. His grave is at St Paul 's Cathedral.

Selection of works Dances

London Guildhall, about 1805

Detail of the main entrance, London Guildhall

Cranbury House

Drawing room in Pitzhanger Manor, Ealing

St. Bartholomew the Less, London

St. Bartholomew the Less, London

Newgate Prison, London demolished

Egyptian Hall, Mansion House, designed by Dance ceiling

Royal College of Surgeons, London, designed by Dance portico

Wesley 's Chapel, London