"The Soane Museum, And What Is To Become of It?"

The title of this lecture comes from an article published in The Builder in 1859, which summed up the puzzlement of the general public as to the purpose of Sir John Soane’s Museum. Sir John conceived of his house and museum as an academy for the enlightenment of the general public as well as a catalyst for the creation of new art by future generations, and he took the controversial step of promoting a private bill in Parliament to establish it as a new national museum in 1833. In so doing, Soane created challenges that successive trustees, curators, and the public have grappled with for almost two centuries. Drawing on research for his forthcoming book on Soane as a collector, Mr. Boucher focuses upon how these challenges were met, as well as the synchronicity of the rehabilitation of Soane’s Museum with the rehabilitation of his reputation as an architect.

Lecture by
Bruce Boucher
Former Deborah Loeb Brice Director
Sir John Soane's Museum

Introduction by
Paul L. Whalen
Chairman
Sir John Soane's Museum Foundation

The Scenic Vision In Architecture Lecture Series: https://soanefoundation.org/lectures/...