Sir John Soane

Sitterback to top

• Sir John Soane (1753-1837), Architect. Sitter in 7 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (1781-1841), Sculptor. Artist associated with 266 portraits, Sitter in 11 portraits.

This portraitback to top

'whether the bust I have made shall be considered like John Soane, or Julius Caesar, is a point that cannot be determined by you or me, I will however, maintain that as a work of art I have never produced a better.' Sir Francis Chantrey to Sir John Soane, 1829
This drawing of the architect Sir John Soane was made for a marble bust that Chantrey gave Soane in exchange for the design of an anteroom to Chantrey's sculpture gallery. Soane placed the bust among his collection of classical antiquities at his home in Lincoln's Inn Fields, now the Sir John Soane Museum. Soane was one of the most important and influential architects of the period, designing the Bank of England and Dulwich Picture Gallery. Chantrey often asked Soane's advice on matters of artistic design.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 573
• Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 465
• Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 624

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• From Pencil to Chisel: Sir Francis Chantrey’s Portrait Drawings (2 April 2011 - 20 November 2011)

Portrait setback to top

• Preliminary drawings for busts and statues by Sir Francis Chantrey, circa 1807-40