SOANE, Sir John
(b. 1753, Goring, d. 1837, London)

Interior view

1811-14
Photo
Gallery, Dulwich College, London

Soane developed a highly austere, even somber, archaic-looking architecture with dramatic light effects, that had much to do with the architecture of the French Revolution and is nonetheless very original. Absolute reduction is the most prominent feature of the painting gallery that Soane built for the Dulwich College in London. This innovative construction is the first detached museum building in England and one of the first top-lit exhibition buildings in Europe. The extended succession of five exhibition rooms projects into two short wings to the west.