Picturesque Features in Sir John Soane’s Museum
Picturesque Features in Sir John Soane’s Museum

Summary/Abstract: In the 18th century in Europe, aesthetics in architecture were connected to the beauty of nature, ornament, Antiquity and their research. The need of representation and interpretation of the visible reality impelled artists and architects to create sceneries with gradation of light, contrasts and “discovery” of nature. They also started to appreciate the value of ruins and to experiment with creating “temporary ones.” The concept that emerged and incorporated all these features was called “picturesque” and was explored mainly in England, Scotland and Wales. One of the architects that examined this domain to a great extent was the English architect Sir John Soane (1753-1837). In the works and lectures he delivered as a Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy of Arts, he demonstrated that beautiful architecture is interwoven with Antiquity. This relationship blossomed when Soane created “narratives” in his buildings that represented picturesque landscapes.

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