Knowledge

John Summerson

Source 📝

397: 571:
the Philosophy and Practice of Architecture. Boston: Butterworth Architecture, 1992, pp. 26, 87–94, 152–155; Howard, Deborah. "Lotz's Text: Its Achievement and Significance." in Lotz, Wolfgang. Architecture in Italy: 1500–1600. Pelican History of Art. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1995. p, 2; Summerson and Hitchcock: Centenary Essays on Architectural Historiography. New Haven, CT: Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, Yale Center for British Art /Yale University Press, 2006; . Middleton, Robin. Casabella 57 (June 1993): 54–5; Middleton, Robin. "John Summerson." Burlington Magazine 135 (April 1993): 277–9; RIBA Journal 100 (February 1993): 63
570:
Watkin, David. The Rise of Architectural History. London: The Architectural Press, 1983, p. 131; Summerson, John. 50 Years of the National Buildings Record, 1941–1991. London: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1991; Wilson, Colin St. John. Architectural Reflections: Studies in
172:
and founded the family foundry of Thomas Summerson and Sons in Darlington in 1869. After the premature death of his father, Samuel James Summerson, in 1907, Summerson travelled extensively in England and Europe with his mother Dorothea and then attended a
1176: 221:
in 1934. Following the unsuccessful attempts to become a practising architect, and greater success as an architectural journalist, Summerson embarked on his first book, a biography of the architect
242:(1963) is an introduction to the stylistic elements of classical architecture and traces their use and variation in different eras. He also wrote many more specialised works, including books about 291:(RCHME) for 21 years from 1953 to 1974, writing the introduction to the book celebrating the NBR's fiftieth anniversary in 1991. He sat on many other public bodies and committees, including the 806: 1161: 1111: 1191: 288: 1121: 287:(NBR) in 1941, Summerson served as its deputy director yet also took to the streets taking photographs for the organisation. He was also a Commissioner of the 648: 726: 1101: 1017: 217:(MARS), a think tank founded by a group of modernist architects, he settled back in London, moving on to a job as an assistant editor for the magazine 1151: 988: 348:
Summerson was noted for his somewhat elitist approach, and he was not always a consistent friend of the conservation movement. He was hired by the
338: 377: 152: 44: 494:
Summerson enjoyed his time at the school and the castle itself provoked an early interest in architecture, and a life-long distaste for the
396: 1106: 144: 36: 1136: 262:
in a distinct positive manner, stating that Boullée was clearly the point of departure for one of the boldest innovators of the century,
1181: 236:(1st edition 1953; many subsequent editions) remained a standard work on the subject for students and general readers after his death. 1166: 1141: 1116: 1156: 810: 670: 1186: 238: 1091: 1059: 1002: 373: 214: 174: 521: 962: 936: 878: 784: 438: 762: 639: 381: 156:(25 November 1904 – 10 November 1992) was one of the leading British architectural historians of the 20th century. 733: 1146: 460:
whose archive, of primarily architectural images, is being digitised under the wider Courtauld Connects project.
190: 169: 120: 902: 334: 330: 148: 40: 616: 495: 314: 450: 307: 296: 292: 259: 1171: 1096: 194: 124: 352:
in Ireland to speak in favour of their demolition of 16 Georgian townhouses in Fitzwilliam Street,
349: 284: 210: 206: 95: 415: 430:" for showy Elizabethan and Jacobean courtier houses. He had many notable students including 263: 222: 906: 1131: 1126: 1051: 994: 422:
and applied mainly to warehouses, factories, and other industrial buildings in the city of
419: 322: 318: 8: 205:
After graduation Summerson worked in several junior roles, most notably in the office of
140: 32: 844: 300: 1065: 1055: 998: 898: 874: 411: 1043: 1022: 475: 464: 400: 369: 1034: 446: 442: 385: 498:. He described Riber as "an object of indecipherable bastardy – a true monster". 228:
He continued to write mainly about British architecture, especially that of the
1026: 457: 431: 474:, London, where he lived with his wife Elizabeth Hepworth, the sister of Dame 1085: 1069: 1012: 427: 342: 271: 251: 186: 116: 356:. The doomed terrace, he said, was "simply one damned house after another". 276: 229: 178: 590: 588: 209:, but architectural practice was not for him and he became a tutor at the 704: 467: 403: 326: 243: 565: 585: 471: 426:, is thought to have been invented by Summerson. He invented the term " 182: 165: 111: 71: 918: 437:
There are a number of portraits of Summerson in the collection of the
325:
for the 1966-7 academic year. He gave the 1964 Master-Mind Lecture on
1177:
People of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
225:(1752–1835). Published in 1935, it was "outstandingly successful". 423: 470:
commemorating Summerson was erected at his former residence in
365: 353: 809:. Architecture Schools Database. 23 March 2020. Archived from 895:
Prodigy Houses of Virginia: Architecture and the Native Elite
1041: 594: 306:
In 1945 Summerson was appointed Director and curator of
164:
John Summerson was born at Barnstead, Coniscliffe Road,
289:
Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
541: 539: 1015:(2009) . "Summerson, Sir John Newenham (1904–1992)". 270:
was called "a masterpiece of British art history" by
456:
Photographs attributed to Summerson are held in the
1162:
Slade Professors of Fine Art (University of Oxford)
825: 536: 345:, who himself went on to become a noted architect. 333:on the history of Georgian architecture in London, 638: 1112:Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour 1083: 299:(1953–78) and was an early and active member of 1192:Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London 1054:. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. 997:. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. 378:Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour 310:, a post he held until his retirement in 1984. 213:, School of Architecture in 1929. Hired by the 1122:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire 1021:(online ed.). Oxford University Press. 897:, p. 2, 2008, University of Virginia Press; 732:. University of Oxford. 2012. Archived from 1102:Academics of Birkbeck, University of London 617:"John Summerson | Historian | Blue Plaques" 963:"Architectural historian gets blue plaque" 256:The Architecture of the Eighteenth Century 760: 1152:Academics of the University of Cambridge 1011: 545: 395: 341:and became a good friend of his student 1018:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 807:"Roger Westman: A life in architecture" 727:"Oxford Slade Professors, 1870–present" 595:Hartwell, Pevsner & Williamson 2016 197:, where he gained a bachelor's degree. 1084: 239:The Classical Language of Architecture 986: 868: 862: 831: 756: 754: 685: 445:and the others by the photographers, 414:, referring to a style influenced by 374:Royal Institute of British Architects 611: 609: 607: 605: 603: 560: 558: 556: 554: 516: 514: 478:, the sculptor, and his three sons. 1107:Alumni of University College London 763:"Sir John Summerson CH CBE FBA FSA" 453:, Barry Beattie, and Stephen Hyde. 321:for 1958–59 and Slade Professor at 215:Modern Architectural Research Group 13: 1137:Recipients of the Royal Gold Medal 911: 761:Summerson, Sir John (3 May 2012). 751: 234:Architecture in Britain: 1530–1830 14: 1203: 1182:20th-century English male writers 1077: 651:from the original on 13 June 2022 600: 551: 511: 439:National Portrait Gallery, London 168:. His grandfather worked for the 1167:English male non-fiction writers 1142:People educated at Harrow School 1117:British architectural historians 1046:; Williamson, Elizabeth (2016). 923:The Dictionary of Art Historians 382:Society of Antiquaries of London 380:in 1987. He was a Fellow of the 1157:20th-century English historians 955: 929: 887: 837: 799: 777: 719: 697: 191:Bartlett School of Architecture 170:Darlington and Stockton Railway 121:Bartlett School of Architecture 16:British architectural historian 1187:Fellows of the British Academy 937:"Who made the Conway Library?" 694:9. Spring 1993. ISSN 0957-0241 663: 640:"Obituary: Sir John Summerson" 631: 488: 335:Birkbeck, University of London 331:The Courtauld Institute of Art 258:(1986), in which he describes 1: 522:"Sir John Newenham Summerson" 505: 159: 1092:English architecture writers 1035:UK public library membership 481: 441:; one in oils by the artist 406:at 1 Eton Villas, Chalk Farm 384:and elected a Fellow of the 280:review of the 1988 edition. 7: 524:. National Portrait Gallery 376:in 1976; and was created a 315:Slade Professor of Fine Art 283:One of the founders of the 219:Architect and Building News 137:Sir John Newenham Summerson 10: 1208: 980: 893:Mooney, Barbara Burlison, 359: 303:that was founded in 1937. 297:Historic Buildings Council 293:Royal Fine Arts Commission 987:Casey, Christine (2005). 765:. University of Cambridge 566:"John Newenham Summerson" 391: 368:in 1958; was awarded the 339:Architectural Association 285:National Buildings Record 200: 195:University College London 130: 125:University College London 110: 105: 101: 91: 79: 52: 23: 329:. Summerson lectured at 211:Edinburgh College of Art 965:. Building Design. 2012 873:. London: Robert Hale. 308:Sir John Soane's Museum 207:Sir Giles Gilbert Scott 96:Architectural historian 57:John Newenham Summerson 1147:People from Darlington 1027:10.1093/ref:odnb/47466 785:"Master-Mind Lectures" 407: 250:(1945) illustrated by 869:Brace, Keith (1996). 399: 264:Claude Nicolas Ledoux 1052:Buildings of England 995:Buildings of Ireland 707:. The Georgian Group 647:. 12 December 1992. 420:Moorish architecture 323:Cambridge University 319:University of Oxford 189:(1918-1922) and the 871:Portrait of Bristol 849:The British Academy 739:on 13 February 2015 106:Academic background 1042:Hartwell, Claire; 845:"Deceased Fellows" 673:. Encyclopedia.com 619:. English Heritage 573:. 21 February 2018 463:In March 2012, an 408: 301:The Georgian Group 295:(1947–54) and the 1061:978-0-300-21559-5 1044:Pevsner, Nikolaus 1033:(Subscription or 1004:978-0-300-10923-8 919:"Stanton, Phoebe" 905:, 9780813926735, 813:on 3 October 2020 787:. British Academy 671:"Summerson, John" 412:Bristol Byzantine 134: 133: 1199: 1172:Knights Bachelor 1097:English curators 1073: 1038: 1030: 1008: 975: 974: 972: 970: 959: 953: 952: 950: 948: 933: 927: 926: 915: 909: 891: 885: 884: 866: 860: 859: 857: 855: 841: 835: 829: 823: 822: 820: 818: 803: 797: 796: 794: 792: 781: 775: 774: 772: 770: 758: 749: 748: 746: 744: 738: 731: 723: 717: 716: 714: 712: 701: 695: 692:RCHME Newsletter 689: 683: 682: 680: 678: 667: 661: 660: 658: 656: 642: 635: 629: 628: 626: 624: 613: 598: 592: 583: 582: 580: 578: 562: 549: 543: 534: 533: 531: 529: 518: 499: 492: 476:Barbara Hepworth 465:English Heritage 401:English Heritage 370:Royal Gold Medal 266:. His 1945 book 185:before going to 155: 86: 83:10 November 1992 67:25 November 1904 66: 64: 47: 21: 20: 1207: 1206: 1202: 1201: 1200: 1198: 1197: 1196: 1082: 1081: 1080: 1062: 1032: 1005: 983: 978: 968: 966: 961: 960: 956: 946: 944: 935: 934: 930: 917: 916: 912: 892: 888: 881: 867: 863: 853: 851: 843: 842: 838: 830: 826: 816: 814: 805: 804: 800: 790: 788: 783: 782: 778: 768: 766: 759: 752: 742: 740: 736: 729: 725: 724: 720: 710: 708: 703: 702: 698: 690: 686: 676: 674: 669: 668: 664: 654: 652: 645:The Independent 637: 636: 632: 622: 620: 615: 614: 601: 593: 586: 576: 574: 564: 563: 552: 544: 537: 527: 525: 520: 519: 512: 508: 503: 502: 493: 489: 484: 447:Walter Stoneman 443:Leonard Rosoman 394: 386:British Academy 362: 268:Georgian London 248:Georgian London 203: 162: 139: 84: 75: 68: 62: 60: 59: 58: 48: 31: 29: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1205: 1195: 1194: 1189: 1184: 1179: 1174: 1169: 1164: 1159: 1154: 1149: 1144: 1139: 1134: 1129: 1124: 1119: 1114: 1109: 1104: 1099: 1094: 1079: 1078:External links 1076: 1075: 1074: 1060: 1039: 1013:Girouard, Mark 1009: 1003: 982: 979: 977: 976: 954: 943:. 30 June 2020 928: 910: 886: 879: 861: 836: 824: 798: 776: 750: 718: 696: 684: 662: 630: 599: 597:, p. 570. 584: 550: 535: 509: 507: 504: 501: 500: 496:Gothic Revival 486: 485: 483: 480: 458:Conway Library 432:Phoebe Stanton 393: 390: 364:Summerson was 361: 358: 202: 199: 161: 158: 132: 131: 128: 127: 114: 108: 107: 103: 102: 99: 98: 93: 92:Known for 89: 88: 87:(aged 87) 81: 77: 76: 69: 56: 54: 50: 49: 30: 28:John Summerson 27: 24: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1204: 1193: 1190: 1188: 1185: 1183: 1180: 1178: 1175: 1173: 1170: 1168: 1165: 1163: 1160: 1158: 1155: 1153: 1150: 1148: 1145: 1143: 1140: 1138: 1135: 1133: 1130: 1128: 1125: 1123: 1120: 1118: 1115: 1113: 1110: 1108: 1105: 1103: 1100: 1098: 1095: 1093: 1090: 1089: 1087: 1071: 1067: 1063: 1057: 1053: 1049: 1045: 1040: 1036: 1028: 1024: 1020: 1019: 1014: 1010: 1006: 1000: 996: 992: 991: 985: 984: 964: 958: 942: 941:Digital Media 938: 932: 924: 920: 914: 908: 904: 900: 896: 890: 882: 880:0-7091-5435-6 876: 872: 865: 850: 846: 840: 834:, p. 76. 833: 828: 812: 808: 802: 786: 780: 764: 757: 755: 735: 728: 722: 706: 700: 693: 688: 672: 666: 650: 646: 641: 634: 618: 612: 610: 608: 606: 604: 596: 591: 589: 572: 567: 561: 559: 557: 555: 547: 546:Girouard 2009 542: 540: 523: 517: 515: 510: 497: 491: 487: 479: 477: 473: 469: 466: 461: 459: 454: 452: 448: 444: 440: 435: 433: 429: 428:prodigy house 425: 421: 417: 413: 405: 402: 398: 389: 387: 383: 379: 375: 371: 367: 357: 355: 351: 346: 344: 343:Roger Westman 340: 336: 332: 328: 324: 320: 316: 311: 309: 304: 302: 298: 294: 290: 286: 281: 279: 278: 273: 272:Simon Jenkins 269: 265: 261: 257: 254:, as well as 253: 252:Alison Sleigh 249: 245: 241: 240: 235: 231: 226: 224: 220: 216: 212: 208: 198: 196: 192: 188: 184: 180: 176: 171: 167: 157: 154: 150: 146: 142: 138: 129: 126: 122: 118: 117:Harrow School 115: 113: 109: 104: 100: 97: 94: 90: 82: 78: 73: 55: 51: 46: 42: 38: 34: 22: 19: 1047: 1016: 989: 967:. Retrieved 957: 945:. Retrieved 940: 931: 922: 913: 907:google books 894: 889: 870: 864: 852:. Retrieved 848: 839: 827: 815:. Retrieved 811:the original 801: 789:. Retrieved 779: 767:. Retrieved 741:. Retrieved 734:the original 721: 709:. Retrieved 699: 691: 687: 675:. Retrieved 665: 653:. Retrieved 644: 633: 621:. Retrieved 575:. Retrieved 569: 526:. Retrieved 490: 462: 455: 436: 409: 363: 347: 312: 305: 282: 277:Sunday Times 275: 267: 255: 247: 237: 233: 230:Georgian era 227: 218: 204: 179:Riber Castle 163: 136: 135: 85:(1992-11-10) 18: 1132:1992 deaths 1127:1904 births 817:18 December 468:blue plaque 451:Walter Bird 404:blue plaque 327:Inigo Jones 244:Inigo Jones 175:prep school 70:Barnstead, 1086:Categories 1048:Derbyshire 1037:required.) 903:0813926734 832:Casey 2005 743:27 January 705:"About Us" 506:References 472:Chalk Farm 183:Derbyshire 166:Darlington 160:Early life 112:Alma mater 72:Darlington 63:1904-11-25 1070:995068002 482:Footnotes 416:Byzantine 410:The term 388:in 1954. 223:John Nash 74:, England 947:13 April 854:13 April 769:13 April 677:13 April 649:Archived 623:13 April 577:13 April 366:knighted 337:and the 981:Sources 969:11 July 791:14 June 711:14 June 655:27 June 528:27 June 424:Bristol 372:of the 360:Honours 317:at the 313:He was 260:Boullée 1068:  1058:  1031: 1001:  990:Dublin 901:  877:  392:Legacy 354:Dublin 232:. His 201:Career 187:Harrow 737:(PDF) 730:(PDF) 274:in a 151: 147: 143: 43: 39: 35: 1066:OCLC 1056:ISBN 999:ISBN 971:2015 949:2022 899:ISBN 875:ISBN 856:2022 819:2020 793:2022 771:2022 745:2015 713:2022 679:2022 657:2019 625:2022 579:2022 530:2019 418:and 246:and 119:and 80:Died 53:Born 1023:doi 434:. 350:ESB 193:at 181:in 177:at 153:FSA 149:FBA 145:CBE 45:FSA 41:FBA 37:CBE 25:Sir 1088:: 1064:. 1050:. 993:. 939:. 921:. 847:. 753:^ 643:. 602:^ 587:^ 568:. 553:^ 538:^ 513:^ 449:, 141:CH 123:, 33:CH 1072:. 1029:. 1025:: 1007:. 973:. 951:. 925:. 883:. 858:. 821:. 795:. 773:. 747:. 715:. 681:. 659:. 627:. 581:. 548:. 532:. 65:) 61:(

Index

CH
CBE
FBA
FSA
Darlington
Architectural historian
Alma mater
Harrow School
Bartlett School of Architecture
University College London
CH
CBE
FBA
FSA
Darlington
Darlington and Stockton Railway
prep school
Riber Castle
Derbyshire
Harrow
Bartlett School of Architecture
University College London
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott
Edinburgh College of Art
Modern Architectural Research Group
John Nash
Georgian era
The Classical Language of Architecture
Inigo Jones
Alison Sleigh

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.