John Soane and The Bank of England

by Eva Schumann-Bacia

Sir John Soane is justly celebrated as the greatest neoclassical architect, and the Bank of England is considered his most important commission. Surprisingly, this tremendous project has never before been the subject of an in-depth study. In John Soane and the Bank of England, Eva Schumann-Bacia unravels the complexities of an undertaking that occupied nearly 50 years of Soane's life and illustrates the evolution of his architectural style as well as his genius in accommodating a changing site and program.
The Bank of England was not only monumental in terms of scale--it covered three acres--but also in terms of time. Construction went on for 1OO years, reaching its conclusion under Soane's direction (1788-1833). Lavishly illustrated with archival materials, including numerous renderings by Joseph Gandy reproduced in full color, this book traces the history of the first world bank, whose economic, social, and political might mirrored the scale of its architecture.
The Bank of England was largely destroyed in 1930; currently only the facades remain. Through its carefully researched text and abundant illustrations, John Soane and the Bank of England conjures up the lost grandeur of this magnificent structure.

206 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996