2010 Bicentenary Information Lecture Series | Lecture Series |
|
|
Lecture SeriesNext Lecture: Sir John Soane and the Belfast Academical InstitutionTim Knox, Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum and formerly Head Curator of the National TrustHugh Dixon, National Trust Curator for Northumberland and County Durham and formerly a Senior Inspector of Historic Buildings in Northern Ireland. Wed March 24th Christ Church RBAI.
When Sir John Soane (1753-1837) made designs for the Belfast Academical Institution – known simply as ‘Inst’ - he was at the height of his powers and prestige, the most distinguished and most original architect then working in the British Isles. As Surveyor of the Office of Works and of the Bank of England, he was in the forefront of the profession; and as Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy, he influenced a generation of young architects. Even today the principal medal awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects bears his name. Many of his great buildings have not survived. Even his Bank of England, a Neo-classical masterpiece which he called ‘the pride and boast of my life,’ was demolished in 1925. Yet what survives demonstrates his innovatory architectural ideas and mastery of space and light. A prickly, difficult man, Soane was capable of deep friendships and great generosity – which extended to making designs for Inst for nothing more then ‘the expectation that the Committee will do me the honour of accepting them’. His extraordinary devotion to architecture and collecting is commemorated by his idiosyncratic house-museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, an amazing, glittering treasury which survives almost exactly as he left it. Inst is the only survivor of three great Neo-classical schemes which Soane designed for Ireland, and even it is a shadow of what Soane originally intended. Had the Founders been able to fund his grandest design, Inst would have been one of the greatest Neo-classical buildings of Europe. Some pictures of the the first lecture and slides to be used in the Architecture lecture above are available to be viewed at http://picasaweb.....RBAI2010Committee First Lecture – An evening of Poetry with Michael Longley and Frank Ormsby The bicentenary celebrations began in Christchurch with an evening of poetry, presented by Mr Frank Ormsby and Professor Michael Longley. Mr Ormsby gave a 15 minute talk about the leading writers associated with RBAI. He then introduced and read some of his own poems. Professor Longley spoke entertainingly of his time at RBAI, first as a pupil, then as a member of staff. He too read a selection of his own poems, as well as work by three other Instonian poets: Derek Mahon, William Peskett and Robert Johnstone. It was a special, hugely memorable evening and provided a most fitting start to the 2010 celebrations. Mr Ormsby has prepared a select bibliography entitled ‘Writers of Inst’, which is now available to view on the School’s website.
Lecture Series – 6 Lectures throughout the bicentenary year. A series of six lectures is planned in the Christ Church Library in the School at 7 for 7:30 pm with wine and cheese. The program is below:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
