Sir John Soane's Museum

Sir John Soane 's Museum is a museum in London, Sir John Soane's that consists of three collapsed former homes. The museum was founded in the 19th century. The foundation of the museum is the April 20, 1833 by "Act of Parliament to settle and preserve the house and collection for the benefit of ' amateurs and students ' in architecture, painting and sculpture " specified. However, the law only covers the determination of the use of the dwelling house Soane after his death. The houses have been converted into a museum after his death in 1837.

Emergence of the house

The three houses that Soane cored and new goal for, lying on the north side of Lincoln 's Inn Fields in Borough London Borough of Camden. First, the number 12 has been redesigned what happened 1792-1794. This is a simple house made ​​of black brick. After his appointment as professor at the Royal Academy in 1806 Soane bought the house number 13 added. The newly purchased house was built in two phases, 1808-09 and 1812, rebuilt. During the first renovation, the rooms were redesigned on the back, which lay in the direction of the stables. 1812 is the front part of the house was remodeled, including the façade of Portland stone. After the reconstruction of the house and the collection Soane 's house number 12 was rented. After his death the house number 12 was also bequeathed to the State to cover the costs of the ongoing operation of the museum. After the house was finished number 13, Soane made ​​the house through continuous remodeling of the interior into a kind of architectural laboratory.

In 1823, the seventy -year-old Sir John, another neighbor's house, the number 14, which he began to rebuild in the same year. The work was completed the following year. The renovations should Soane allow the design of a gallery. The front part was sold by Soane.

Since 1969, the house is number 12 used as a research library for offices and since 1995 as the " Soane Gallery" with changing exhibitions. Between Soane's death and 1947, the Museum Foundation was able to rely only on the original donation Soane. Since then, the museum receives an annual subsidy by the British government. The museum is now a national center of architecture. In 1997, the number 14 using the "Heritage Lottery Fund " (non-profit Lottery Foundation ) was bought. 2006, the restoration work has been completed, the house should be useful for educational purposes.

After Soane Testament to guide the museum curator, a male and a female inspector. For example, 1945 was the curator of Sir John Summerson, who was assisted by Dorothy Stroud. Summerson was replaced by Peter Thornton, who came from the Victoria and Albert Museum. Margaret Richardson was the first director of the museum. At first she was, since 1985, the successor of Mrs. Stroud was in 1995 and Peter Thornton curator until 2005.

Currently, Tim Knox Director of the Museum, who abolished the title of curator. William Palin, the son of Michael Palin, is the deputy curator.

Architecture

The former home and museum was later displaced by the tags in a neo -classical style, was known for the Soane. Today's main entrance is located in Lincoln 's Inn Fields No. 13 From here all the rooms of the museum can be reached.

The most famous rooms of the museum are located in the rear part, which are mostly illuminated by skylights with daylight. The gallery has wings that can be activated and expanded and thus provide a larger area for hanging pictures. The wings allow three times the area of placing images. Gladly will be shown to visitors to this part of the museum.

The building number 12 and 13 have half a dozen rooms, many of them in a very unusual way, eg the dome-shaped ceiling in the breakfast room, in which a convex mirror is used, inspired architects around the globe. The library displays the Gothic influence and is held in a lush red Pompeyan. The study includes a collection of Roman artifacts and two courtyards. These courtyards are called Monument Court and Monk's yard and house, as the study, other architectural fragments. The Monument Court is held classicist with a central column, the Monk's yars on the other hand represents the Gothic style, showing medieval stonework from the Palace of Westminster.

Collection

Soane's collection includes approximately 30,000 architectural drawings, including original drawings by Robert Adam, as well as a book of drawings by John Thorpe. The collection of original drawings Adam is the largest of its kind Furthermore architectural exhibits are available. The collection includes sculptures of neoclassical plaster and terracotta works by John Flaxman.

In the collection there are many famous pictures of William Hogarth. Eight works of the cycle, "A Rake's Progress" and four humoreske images on the election of members of parliament from the Oxford year, 1754.

An alabaster sarcophagus of Seti I. is issued ( " grave chamber " ) in the " Sepulchral Chamber". In honor of the arrival of the exhibit a three-day festival was held, when the sarcophagus was erected.

Another fascinating area is the " Monk's Parlour " ( " monk Salon" ), which is set up a little morbid.