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Exploring London's Sir John Soane’s Museum: Art, Architecture, and the Antique with Dr. Alan Montgomery

Exploring London's Sir John Soane’s Museum: Art, Architecture, and the Antique with Dr. Alan Montgomery


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Situated on London’s most prominent square, the magical Sir John Soane’s Museum is truly one of a kind. Built and furnished between the 1790s and the 1820s by one of the era’s most renowned and successful architects, this unique building was intended as a home, an office, and a museum – as a result, it is crammed with an eclectic collection of art and antiquities, featuring everything from ancient Roman sculptures and architectural fragments to masterpieces by painters such as William Hogarth and Canaletto. 

Join an expert for a virtual tour of London’s most eccentric and atmospheric museum, a unique space designed by one of England’s greatest architects and filled with his fascinating personal collection of art and antiquities.

The Sir John Soane Museum is a real treasure trove of the unusual and the unexpected. The items still displayed as Soane himself intended, with every inch of wall or floor space utilized to maximum effect. The building, too, lovingly designed by Soane, is filled with strange quirks and eccentric features, reflecting his love of the ancient and the romantic and including the latest decorative tastes and innovations. 

Led by an expert on the early modern European fascination with the ancient world, this interactive seminar will take us on a virtual walk around the Sir John Soane Museum and feature discussions of the house and key objects in the collection, as well as information on Sir John Soane, his career and his legacy. Designed to inspire curiosity and future travels, participants will come away with an insight into both the fascinating museum and the architectural genius who created it.

Alan Montgomery was born and raised in Scotland but has spent most of his adult life in London. Having achieved an MA in Art History at Glasgow University, he worked for many years in the art world at both an international auction house and an antique dealer. In recent years he has returned to academia, achieving an MA in Classical Civilisation in 2011, and has recently completed a Ph.D. in which he analyzed eighteenth-century attitudes towards the ancient Roman world. In addition to his work for Context Travel, Alan also writes catalog essays on Contemporary Art for a leading auctioneer. Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 2017, his first book, entitled 'Classical Caledonia', was published by Edinburgh University Press in August 2020.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 13 reviews
92%
(12)
8%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
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D
Deborah (Anchorage, US)
Great, thorough tour of Sir John Sloane's museum

Dr. Montgomery placed the museum in contect, explaining the collection and development of the museum. I have visited it and was puzzled by some of the exhibits and the overall desing of the museum. I know that when I see it again, I will look at it much more knowledgably.

D
D.K. (Leawood, US)
Excellent tour

I've been to Sir John Soanes museum once and there was so much to take in. This tour highlighted a few things that were incredibly interesting. I would like to see another tour that focuses on other aspects of this museum.

J
J.E. (Frankfurt am Main, DE)
So interesting!

I have visited this museum several times, but it was great to get information about what I saw. The museum is so full of things to see that it is hard to take everything in. Alan did a good job of giving information about the museum and its contents. Good pictures.

J
Jane Schulman (Longmeadow, US)

Such a fascinating subject, and excellent guide and "teacher".

A
Anonymous (Beverly, US)
Excellent lecture and tour of the Soane Museum

Alan Montgomery gave an excellent lecture as usual - always professional and well presented. Many thanks!

Customer Reviews

Based on 13 reviews
92%
(12)
8%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
D
Deborah (Anchorage, US)
Great, thorough tour of Sir John Sloane's museum

Dr. Montgomery placed the museum in contect, explaining the collection and development of the museum. I have visited it and was puzzled by some of the exhibits and the overall desing of the museum. I know that when I see it again, I will look at it much more knowledgably.

D
D.K. (Leawood, US)
Excellent tour

I've been to Sir John Soanes museum once and there was so much to take in. This tour highlighted a few things that were incredibly interesting. I would like to see another tour that focuses on other aspects of this museum.

J
J.E. (Frankfurt am Main, DE)
So interesting!

I have visited this museum several times, but it was great to get information about what I saw. The museum is so full of things to see that it is hard to take everything in. Alan did a good job of giving information about the museum and its contents. Good pictures.

J
Jane Schulman (Longmeadow, US)

Such a fascinating subject, and excellent guide and "teacher".

A
Anonymous (Beverly, US)
Excellent lecture and tour of the Soane Museum

Alan Montgomery gave an excellent lecture as usual - always professional and well presented. Many thanks!