Soane Museum Study Group – Wednesday 28 February 2024 – Frances Sands

The Soane Museum Study Group is an open forum for scholars – both established and emerging – to present new research into an aspect of architectural history and/or Soane’s collection.

Frances Sands – Exploring a little-known volume of frieze designs from the office of Robert and James Adam

Wed 28 Feb, 6.30pm

On arrival, please come to no. 14 Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The door will be staffed from 6.00pm.

About the event

Among the volumes of drawings by the eighteenth-century Scottish architects Robert and James Adam held at Sir John Soane’s Museum, number 53 is unique. Whereas its 56 companion volumes were pieced together after Robert (1728-92) and James (1732-94) had died, this is the only one that was compiled while the Adam office was in business. Comprising a collection of frieze designs from numerous commissions undertaken by the Adam brothers throughout their career, the volume is drawn in a single draughtsman’s hand, as a cohesive project, and seamlessly runs from the commissions of one patron to another. However, despite the density of Adam scholarship and the unusual nature of this volume, number 53 has received almost no attention. Its date, authorship and purpose are all shrouded in mystery, and are here will be the subject of detailed observation for the first time.

The volume will be on display for perusal at the end of the talk.

Your confirmation email serves as your ticket.

About the event

Dr Frances Sands is the Curator of Drawings and Books at Sir John Soane’s Museum where she has worked since 2010.