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Sir John Newenham Summerson

(1904-1992), Architectural scholar; Director of Sir John Soane's Museum

Sitter in 6 portraits
Architectural historian and writer on art. Sir John Summerson typified the professional mandarinate that dominated government and the arts after the Second World War. Educated at Harrow and the Bartlett School of Architecture, Summerson turned to writing about architecture in the early 1930s under the pseudonym 'Coolmore'. He later wrote a number of books including Architecture Here and Now (1934), Georgian London (1946), Ben Nicholson (1948) and The Life and Work of John Nash, Architect (1981). In 1945 he became Curator of Sir John Soane's Museum in Lincoln's Inns Fields and remained in this post until his retirement in 1984, aged 80

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Sir John Newenham Summerson

by Leonard Rosoman
oil on canvas, 1984
NPG 5730

Sir John Newenham Summerson

by Walter Bird
bromide print on card mount, 29 November 1966
NPG x165794

Sir John Newenham Summerson

by Stephen Hyde
bromide print, June 1984
NPG x24948

Sir John Newenham Summerson

by Barry Beattie
resin print, 1984
NPG x126802

Sir John Newenham Summerson

by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1956
NPG x185553

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Sir John Newenham Summerson

by Barry Beattie
print, 1984
NPG x24126

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London

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Sir John Newenham Summerson

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