Frontispiece of The Works of Robert and James Adam

Category

Library Item

Item no

28252

Title

Frontispiece of The Works of Robert and James Adam Esquires

Description

In this illustration, a student is being taught by Minerva, who points to Italy, as opposed to Greece, as the country from whence he must derive the most perfect knowledge and taste in elegant architecture.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Engraver

Bartolozzi, F.

Date

1900

Size

55.3 x 40.5 cm

Type

Engraving

Location

Art and Design Library

This frontispiece comes from a 1900 reprint of The Works in Architecture of Robert and James Adam, originally published in 1773 and probably the most significant architectural publication of the 18th century.

The 'Works' helped re-establish the Adam brothers' reputation after the collapse of the speculative Adelphi construction project in London.

The book established the Adam style with engravings of elevations, plans, interiors, furniture and fireplaces. Seats of the aristocracy such as those of the Duke of Northumberland, the Earl of Mansfield and the Earl of Bute are represented, as well as designs for the King and Queen.

The Adams brothers’ works appealed to fashionable society and many clients wanted their houses remodelled in the Adam style. `The Works’ provided a pattern book for such clients and was crucial in making the neo-classical style popular.

The Adam brothers decided to issue the 'Works' in parts, from 1773, rather than publish the book outright. In this way they avoided the lengthy subscription process required to raise funds and the money saved was ploughed back into production. It also provided them with immediate marketing material for their practice.

All five parts were published over the period 1773-1779. The price of a delayed publication was that pattern books of neo-classical style became increasingly popular over the course of the publication of the Adam brothers’ `Works’, reducing the book’s special status.

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Architecture > Architectural features > Alcoves

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