Robert Adam 1728-1792
Robert Adam (3 July 1728 – 3 March 1792) was a Scottish neoclassical
architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of
William Adam (1689–1748), Scotland's foremost architect of the
time, and trained under him. With his older brother John, Robert took
on the family business, which included lucrative work for the Board
of Ordnance, after William's death.
In 1754 he left for Rome, spending nearly five years on the continent studying architecture under Charles-Louis Clérisseau and Giovanni Battista Piranesi. On his return to Britain he established a practice in London, where he was joined by his younger brother James. Here he developed the "Adam Style", and his theory of "movement" in architecture, based on his studies of antiquity and became one of the most successful and fashionable architects in the country. Robert Adam was leader of the first phase of the classical revival
in England and Scotland from around 1760 until his death.[2] He influenced
the development of Western architecture, both in Europe and in North
America. Adam was not content with providing houses for his clients
but very ready to design the fittings and accesoiries as well.[3] |