A Review Of The Professional Life Of Sir John Soane, Archt. R.A. M.I.B.A. F.R.S. And Member Of Various Foreign Academies. Deceased 20th January, 1837. With Some Remarks On His Genius And Productions. Read At The First Subsequent Ordinary Meeting Of The Institute Of British Architects, Held Monday 6th February, 1837. By Thomas Leverton Donaldson, Fellow And Honorary Secretary, Corresponding Member Of The Institute Of France, &c. &c. -
London:: John Williams, Library Of Arts, Charles Street, Soho Square. -, MDCCCXXXVII.
Physical Description
32 p.; 208 mm. (Octavo.)
Contents
[T.p.] - Advertisement - [Dedic.] - [Text] - The following List contains the most important Works of the late Sir John Soane ... by George Bailey ... - The following is a List of the more important Designs and Compositions made by Sir John Soane ...; [colophon].
Responsibility Note
The printer is named on the title-page verso and in the colophon: 'T.R. Drury, Printer, 10, Johnson's Court, Fleet Street.'
The work is dedicated by Thos. L. Donaldson to Sir Jeffry Wyatville.
References
NSTC 2D16519. Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library ... Early Printed Books, I (1994), no. 903, p. 504.
Summary Note
This review of Soane's career was rather the tribute of an official of the [Royal] Institute of British Architects than of someone who had much personal knowledge of its subject beyond memories of the time he had served as a pupil in Soane's office twenty years earlier. Furthermore, as the Advertisement admits, it was 'hastily written'. However, after Wren's Parentalia (1750), it does have the distinction of being the first biography of any British architect to find a place in the Academy's library.
Reproductions
Facsimiles were published in 1995 on microfiche (Cambridge: Chadwyck-Healey) and microfilm (London: British Library).
Provenance
Presented by the author in 1837 (see RA Council Minutes, VIII, 301).
Binding Note
19th-century half calf, marbled-papered boards; rebacked and recornered in 20th century, spine lettered 'R.A. Donaldson's Life Of Sir J. Soane 1837'. Bound with one other.
Architects - Architecture, British - Great Britain - History - 18th century - 19th century - Neoclassical
Biography - Art history - Great Britain - 19th century