Lot Essay
An exact reduced copy of the engraving by Thomas Vivares published in January 1775 in The Works in Architecture of Robert and James Adam, vol. I, number iv, pl. IV, most likely intended to be engraved for another purpose probably for The Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce was built to designs by Robert Adam from 1772-1774 on a site leased from the Adam brothers, opposite their Adelphi Terrace on John Street. The Adelphi has vanished but fortunately the facade at least of The Royal Society of Arts remains more or less unaltered. The roundels shown over the windows and the statues in this drawing and the engraving were never executed. There is an original sketch of the front, 3 plans and 2 elevations at the Soane Museum (Vol. 10: 86; vol. 32: 12-15)
For more information see A.T. Bolton, The Architecture of Robert and James Adam (1922), II, 40-46.
The Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce was built to designs by Robert Adam from 1772-1774 on a site leased from the Adam brothers, opposite their Adelphi Terrace on John Street. The Adelphi has vanished but fortunately the facade at least of The Royal Society of Arts remains more or less unaltered. The roundels shown over the windows and the statues in this drawing and the engraving were never executed. There is an original sketch of the front, 3 plans and 2 elevations at the Soane Museum (Vol. 10: 86; vol. 32: 12-15)
For more information see A.T. Bolton, The Architecture of Robert and James Adam (1922), II, 40-46.
