Nestled amongst the law practices on Lincolns Inn Fields is the museum created by Sir John Soanes, the early Victorian architect, in 1833, just four years before his death.
Elsewhere in the building is the ‘Picture Room’ which features ingenious moveable walls allowing the layers of paintings to be show in their full glory – amongst them are Hogarth’s ‘Rake’s Progress’, works by Canaletto and Piranesi, and watercolours by the artist Joseph Gandy, who Soanes employed to realise some of his architectural designs. Up on the first floor overlooking Lincolns Inn Fields (and, yesterday, large numbers of protestors on their way to the public sector rally in central London) is the remarkable drawing room which is decorated in a vivid canary yellow – there goes my theory that Victorian decor only ever comes in shades of muddy brown or deep purple!
This vast collection of curiosities is definitely worth visiting – its a remarkable monument to this early Victorian philanthropist. It’s expanding too – further sections of the house are due to be opened up over the next two to three years, including the private reception rooms of Mr and Mrs Soane on the upper floors as well as some new gallery spaces, where the pieces will have a little more room to breathe.
Just to note that entry to Sir John Soane’s Museum is free, but a donation of around £3 is welcomed – you can take care of that by picking up a copy of the very useful small guidebook (£2) and making an additional contribution. There’s also absolutely no photography or mobile phone use allowed inside – many of the fragile exhibits are kept in very dimly-lit conditions, and I’m guessing that’s the reason for this restriction – repeated exposure to bright camera flashes would no doubt damage some of them. You’ll just have to use your eyes and your memory on your visit!
I’ll leave you with one little teaser about the Sir John Soane’s Museum that might help your exploration of the place – Fanny was much loved by Sir John and his wife, so see if you can a) spot her memorial and b) work out who or what Fanny was…