The Little Study

The Little Study P86 (detail)

This little room was where Soane would sit and work at the surprisingly small table which pulled out from under the desk as you can see. Here he would produce the kind of drawings which would be worked up by the pupils (like Original Sketch Design: Tyringham Gateway). He would also be able to keep an eye on who was coming and going in the back part of the house. In front of the window are blinds like modern Venetian ones but vertical so that Soane would adjust the light to have it just how he wanted it. Between the Little Study and the area below the Upper Drawing Office is the Dressing Room where he would tidy himself up and put on his wig and coat before meeting builders who, like the pupils, would use the office door at the back of the house. This is a detail from a drawing of 1822.