Due to unforseen circumstances this event has been cancelled. We are in the process of refunding all orders.
The Soane Museum Study Group is an open forum for scholars – both established and emerging – to present new research into an aspect of architectural history and/or Soane’s collection.
By popular demand the following study group session will be rerun on Saturday 14 March.
Frances Sands – Grinling Gibbons as a master of two dimensions
The woodcarver Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721) is one of the most admired artists in British history, but least known among his works are the design drawings he made in preparation for his carving. Around 50 of these drawings are known to survive; 39 of which – thought to be for the interiors of Hampton Court Palace – are held within the important Hampton Court Album at Sir John Soane’s Museum. This session will consider the significance, provenance, purpose, draughtsmanship and authorship of these drawings and what they can tell us about Gibbons as a craftsman.
Frances Sands is Curator of Drawings and Books at Sir John Soane’s Museum. Fran’s research interests lie in Georgian architectural drawings. Prior to working at the Soane Museum she studied for a PhD at the University of York. Her thesis comprised a monographic study of Nostell Priory. In 2010 she was appointed as Catalogue Editor at the Soane Museum, with responsibility for catalogue the office drawings collection of Robert Adam. In 2016 she was appointed Curator of Drawings and Books. Since 2010 Fran has also served as a Trustee for the York Georgian Society, the Mausolea and Monuments Trust and the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain.
Saturday 14 March 2020, 1.30-2.30pm
On arrival please come to no. 14 Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The door will be staffed from 1.15pm