The Sir John Soane Museum sits be the Inns of Court in central London. However, its namesake was not a lawyer but rather one of the leading architects in Britain in the early 19th century. In addition to architectural drawings by Soane and by other famous architects, the museum houses paintings by the likes of Turner and Lawrence as well numerous artitacts from ancient Greece, Rome and Eygpt. Furthermore, the buildings the museum is housed in were Soane's home and office and so provide insights into life in the early 19th century.


John Soane was the son of a bricklayer. Contacts he made persuaded him to study architecture at the newly opened Royal Academy of Arts Schools. Soane did very well in his studies wining prizes and even a scholarship to travel to Italy where he studied the ancient sites and Renaissance buildings. Along the way, he met other English people who were making their own Grand Tour. Many of these young friends were to become influential and future clients.


Nonetheless, it took several years after returning to England for Soane to become a leading architect. Eventually, the commissions began to come in and during the course of his long career, Soane was involved in designing for prestigous instituions such as the Bank of England, the Palace of Westminster, and the Royal Hospital Chelsea as well as many grand country mansions. Many of these buildings have been lost over time. However, the Dulwich Picture Gallery – Britain's first purpose-built art museum – remains as a prime example of Soane's work.


In addition to his architectural practice, Soane taught at the Royal Academy. He was elected an associate in 1795 and a full academican in 1802. In addition to the leading architects of the day, Soane became friends with Royal Academy Academicans Sir Thomas Lawrence and JMW Turner.


To house himself and his family, Soane bought the house at 12 Lincoln's Inn Field in 1792. He demolished this house and erected one of his own design. When the house next door, number 13, became available in 1813, he purchased it, eventually demolishing it and replacing it with one of his own design. In 1824, he purchased number 14, extending the picture room from number 13 into the back of the property while renting out the forward part of the property. Thus, Soane turned what had been three buildings into a single entity that was his home, an office and a place to display his art collection.


Soane secured a private act of Parliament that specified that the buildings and their contents would be donated to the British nation as a museum when he died. However, the building and its contents must remain as he left them.


Although the interiors of Nos. 12, 13, and 14 Lincoln's Inn Fields are interconnected, the three properties still look like three separte buildings. Visitors enter through the front door of No. 13, although visitos with bags must check them at the entrance of No. 12. Because the museum is quite popular and the space inside is limited, there is often a queue outside during tourist season.


In keeping with Sir John's wishes that the museum remain as he left it, there are few signs and placards in the museum. Visitors can purchase a brief guide book at the door. In addition, there are docyenes stationed in various rooms who point out major works and other points of interest.


Inasmuch as this was a home, rooms such as the dining room, the library. the breakfast room, the drawing rooms and the kitchens look like typical typical upper middle-class homes of this era. However, in them are treasures such as Lawrence's portrait of Soane and works by Turner.


The other rooms are unique. The walls of the Monk's Parlor are lined with artifacts from Medieval cathedrals. The Catacombs have Roman cinerary urns and vases. Fagments of Roman buildings crowd the Study and more than a humdred pieces of Roman art fill the Anteroom of the Breakfast Room. There is a room full of columns and a room dominated by an Eygptian sarcophagus,


Soane used innovative ways to bring light to the interior. For example, a glass dome and skylights bring natural light to an area full of ancient works but dominated by a bust of Soane by Sir Francis Chantrey and a full-size cast of the Apollo Belvedere.


The Picture Room is a small chamber. Even with the works extending high up each wall, it does not look like it would hold very many pictures. However, the walls have unique panels that swing out to reveal more pictures. As a result, the room can hold three times the number of pictures that would normally fit in this size space. The room is home to works by Canaletto and Hogarth among others.


Indeed, the art in the Sir John Soane Museum could easily fill a museum twice its size. It is difficult to know where to look and seemingly impossible not to miss something. However, there are treasures here not to be missed. In addition, the Museum reveals the fertile mind of a great collector.


The Museum also offers tours that take visitors to Soane's private apartments and to Soane's office. It also hosts visiting temporary exhibitions. For more information on visiting, see the Sir John Soane's Museum's website.

​Above: A Canaletto in the Picture Room.

Above: Sir John used every inch of space to house his collections.
​Below: The Dining Room and Library.

Places to see art ​ -  The Sir John Soane Museum - London, England