3rd July 1728, Kircaldy, Fife, Scotland.
Family
Background:
Son of a Stonemason.
Education:
Edinburgh University. (Never graduated
due to illness and the upheavals of the ’45 Jacobite Rebellion.
(See Charles Edward Stewart “Bonnie Prince
Charlie”).
Chronology/Biography
of Robert Adam:
1739:
Moved to Edinburgh at the age of eleven, where his father
had become the most Popular Architect in Scotland.
1748:
Father died when he was 20 and Robert became a member of the family
firm now called Adam Brothers.
1750:
Left the firm to go on the “Grand Tour” in France and Italy. He
Studied widely the classical Roman ruins and learning drawing skills.
On his return to London he opened his own Architectural practice
and he soon became established as one of the most fashionable designers
amongst. the High Society. His Practice was timely as there was
a renewed interest. in England for all things Classical and the
“Palladian Movement” (Based on the proportional architecture of
the Italian Andrea Palladio) had just. firmly taken hold.
Adam was no slavish Palladian however
and his Style has become known as “neoclassical”. He adapted and
developed ancient Styles rather than simply copying them.
As Adam was more often than not
asked to renovate existing buildings much of his work was concerned
with interiors. He was obsessive over every detail and designed
everything himself down to plasterwork and fireplaces. He moved
beyond Roman Style and was influenced by Greek, Byzantine and Italian
Baroque design.
The best examples of his exterior
work still in existence are Admiralty Arch in London and Bowood
House.
Marriage:
Never married.
Date and Place of Death:
3rd March 1792, London, England.
Age at Death:
64.
Site of Grave:
Westminster Abbey, London.
Westminster Abbey, London
(© Anthony Blagg)
Places of Interest:
AVON:
Pulteney Bridge, Bath.
DERBYSHIRE:
Kedleston Hall, Derby, DE22 5JH.
(Interiors) National Trust.
DEVON:
Ugbrooke Park, Chudleigh, TQ13 0AD.
Saltram house, Devon. National
Trust
LONDON:
Admiralty Arch, The Mall. (Exterior)
Bowood House.
Kenwood, Hamstead, NW3 7JR (English
Heritage)
Osterly Park, Jersey Road, Isleworth.
(National Trust.)
Royal Society of Arts, 8 John Adam
Street, WC2N 6EZ. (Fireplaces)
Sir John Soane’s Museum, has a collection
of 9,000 drawings. 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP
Apsley House, Now The Wellington
Museum, Hyde Park Corner, W1V 9FA.
Kenwood House, Hamstead , NW3 7JR.
MIDDLESEX:
Osterley Park, Jersey Road, Isleworth,
(Interiors) National Trust
Syon Park, Brentford, Middlesex,
IW8 8JF 0181 560 0883
OXFORDSHIRE:
Tables: Buscot Park, Oxfordshire.
NT
SUFFOLK:
Theatre and town Hall, Bury St Edmunds.
SURREY:
Hatchlands. National Trust
SCOTLAND:
Bowood House and Gardens,Register
House, Edinburgh
Entrance to the Old College, Edinburgh
University.
Number 7 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.
Gosford House, Longniddry, EH32
0PY. (Designed central block and wings)
Newliston, Kirkliston, West Lothian,
Scotland, EH29 9EB 0131 333 3231
Yester House, Clifford, East Lothian,
WH41 4JH.
Exterior: Culzean Castle, Strathclyde,
Scotland.
Mellerstain House, Gordon, Berwickshire,
Borders, TD3 6LG
WORCESTERSHIRE:
Croome Court, Pershore. (Interiors)
YORKSHIRE:
Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds,
LS17 9LQ
Newby Hall and Gardens, Rippon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5AE.
North Wing and Library: Nestell Priory, West Yorkshire. National
Trust
