John Soan, Architect

Without doubt the most brilliant architectural innovator of his day, Sir John Soane RA (1753-1837) displayed a remarkable ability to adapt and modernise the language of classical architecture. The range of his built designs, from the ingenuity of his own house in Lincoln s Inn Fields (later left in trust to the nation) to the opulence and originality of the Bank of England, places him on a par with other leading European Neoclassicists, such as Ledoux and Schinkel. His architectural vocabulary remains influential to this day. This landmark publication considers the legacy of Soane s architectural achievements, as well as his life and public role. It reproduces over one hundred of Soane s drawings and contains specially commissioned photographs of his original models and existing buildings. Contributors discuss all of the architect s major commissions, including the Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Law Courts at Westminster, and the Bank of England.