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Special Soane Late to celebrate the success of Fanciful Figures exhibition

May 2024

Sir John Soane’s Museum's current exhibition Fanciful Figures is going down a treat with the public and press alike, with a five-star review in The Times. 

Image credit: Holkham Hall, Norfolk: Perspectives of landscape viewed from within portico. Sir John Soane’s Museum

Fanciful Figures explores ‘staffage’, the small human and animal figures seen in architectural drawings, which first appeared in the late seventeenth century in Britain. Presenting the drafting practices of past and present, including a specially commissioned film exploring the representation of communities in contemporary architectural drawing, the exhibition illustrates the figures’ ability to animate architects’ visions.

Image credit: Sam Churchill

To accompany this exciting exhibition, the Museum will be holding a special Soane Late on Friday 31 May. This candlelit evening offers visitors the chance to explore the exhibition after hours, view a display of additional material considered for the exhibition, and learn more about the process of curating the exhibition with Dr Frances Sands, curator of Drawing and Books. In typical Soane Late-style, the whole Museum, beautifully illuminated, will be open to explore with a complimentary glass of prosecco, white wine, or elderflower cordial available in the Library-Dining Room.

Image credit: Matt Tidby

As the weather brightens up, the museum is enjoying the warm light created by Soane’s ingenious use of coloured glass throughout the building. Summer is the perfect time to host a Private Tour, Drinks Reception, or Dinner in their distinctive House Museum. For more information contact events@soane.org.uk.

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