Montage of various buildings by Sir William Chambers at Kew Gardens, Royal Academy lecture drawing, c.1806-19, ©Sir John Soane’s Museum, London

Study Day at Compton Verney

All Day – Wednesday June 18

Sir John Soane was interested classical architecture. His collection of beautifully illustrated drawings for amazing buildings, both real and imagined, in this country and beyond, is the basis for our study day.

Our study day will explore the answers to these very questions! Focused on Compton Verney’s current exhibition, Towering Dreams: Extraordinary Architectural Drawings, its curator, Jane Simpkiss, will discuss how architects of the 18th and early 19th centuries understood the world around them and the ideas and cultures which inspired them.

During the 18th and 19th century, new buildings sprouted up across cities, towns and country estates in Britain. Whilst seeming traditional and familiar today, the inspirations behind many were strange at the time, drawing influences from ancient Greek and Roman buildings, Egyptian monuments and even buildings from the Far East and Asia. We will explore the reasons for these interests and how they shaped many buildings we still see today, including Compton Verney itself.

Drawn from the collection of the Sir John Soane’s Museum, amassed by one of Britain’s most famous and pioneering architects, Towering Dreams features extraordinary architectural drawings for amazing buildings, both real and imagined, in Britain and the world beyond.

Travel, particularly the Grand Tour, initiated much of the interest in design from the past and our second speaker, Dr Rosemarie Dias, Reader in History of Art at the University of Warwick, will link the thread of the first talk to the art of that time. In doing so, she will include as examples some of Compton Verney’s own paintings.

A light lunch of soup, sandwiches, sweet and coffee will be served then you are free to explore Towering Dreams and the galleries of Compton Verney until they close at 16.30.

Timing

10.15 Guests arrive, coffee etc, Old Servants’ Hall

10.30 Jane Simpkiss talk

11.30 Comfort break

11.45 Rosemarie Dias talk

12.45-13.15 Comfort break,

13.15-14.15 Lunch

14.15 Free to tour exhibition.

Price per ticket including coffee, 2 talks, lunch and exhibition entry £60

Please book on-line with dietary needs:
http://artfriendswarks.uk/booking-for-events. Booking closes on 13 June