Architectural practice in Edinburgh

On the death of William Adam, John Adam inherited both the family business and the position of Master Mason of the Council of Artillery. He immediately teamed up with Robert, and they were later joined by James Adam. The Adam brothers' first major commission was the decoration of the large state apartments on the first floor at Hopetoun House, near Queensferry, west of Edinburgh, followed by their first new build at Dumfries House. For the Ordnance Council, the Adam brothers' family business was the main contractor on Fort George&action=edit&redlink=1 "Fort George (Highland) (not yet drafted)"), a large modern fort near Inverness designed by Colonel Skinner, a military engineer. Visits to this project, which began in 1750, would occupy the brothers every summer for the next ten years, and, together with work on many other barracks and forts, gave Robert a solid practical foundation in construction.[5]​.

In the winter of 1749-1750, Adam traveled to London with his friend, the poet John Home. He took the opportunity to study architecture, visiting Wilton, designed by Inigo Jones, and the Queens Hermitage in Richmond (Richmond (London), by Roger Morris). His sketchbook from the trip also shows a continuing interest in Gothic architecture.[5]​.

His friends in Edinburgh included the philosophers Adam Ferguson and David Hume and the artist Paul Sandby whom he met in the Highlands. Other acquaintances from Edinburgh were the aforementioned John Home, Gilbert Elliot, William Wilkie") and Alexander Wedderburn").[5]

The Grand Tour

On October 3, 1754, Robert, in the company of his brother James (who arrived in Brussels), left Edinburgh for his Grand Tour, stopping for a few days in London, where they visited the Mansion House "Mansion House (London"), St Stephen Walbrook"),[4] St. Paul's Cathedral "St. Paul's Cathedral (London"), Windsor "Windsor (England)") and Berkshire, in the company of Thomas Sandby") who he showed them his landscaping at Windsor Great Park and Virginia Water Lake").[4]​ They embarked at the port of Dover "Dover (England)") and arrived at Calais[4]​ on 28 October 1754.[4]​ He joined Charles Hope-Weir"), brother of the Earl of Hope") in Brussels[4]​ and together they traveled to Rome.[4]​ Hope agreed to take Adam on the tour at the suggestion of his uncle, the Marquis of Annandale, who had committed himself to the Grand Tour. While in Brussels the couple attended a play and a masquerade, and visited churches and palaces in the city.[4] They traveled to Tournai, then to Lille, where they visited the Citadal designed by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban.[4] On 12 November 1754 Adam and Hope were in Paris, where they stayed at the Hotel de Notre. Give me.[4]​.

Adam and Hope traveled to Italy together, before separating in Rome after disagreements over travel and accommodation costs. Robert stayed in Rome until 1757, studying classical architecture and perfecting his drawing skills. His tutors were the French architect and artist Charles-Louis Clérisseau), and the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi. In Rome he became acquainted with the work of the pioneering classical archaeologist and art historian and theorist, Johann Joachim Winckelmann. On their return trip, Adam and Clérisseau spent time intensively studying the ruins of Diocletian's Palace at Spalato, in Dalmatia (now known as Split, in modern Croatia).[6] These studies were later published, in 1764, as Ruins of the Palace of the Emperor Diocletian at Spalatro in Dalmatia [Ruins of the Palace of the Emperor Diocletian at Spalato in Dalmatia].

Architectural practice in London

He returned to Britain in 1758 and settled professionally in London with his brother James Adam. They focused on the design of complete projects for decorating and furnishing homes. Palladianism was popular and Robert designed several country houses based on that taste,[7]​ but developing a new, more flexible style that incorporated elements of classical Roman architecture along with Greek, Byzantine and Baroque influences.[7]​ The success of the Adam brothers can also be attributed to their desire to design everything, down to the smallest detail, which ensured a sense of unity in their design.

Public life

Adam was elected a member of the Royal Society of Arts in 1758 and of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1761, the same year he was appointed architect of the King's Works (alongside Sir William Chambers "William Chambers (architect)"). In 1768 his younger brother James replaced him after his resignation, spending more time in his role as Member of Parliament for Kinross.

Robert Adam died at the age of 64 at his home at 11 Albermarle Street, London, due to a problem with a blood vessel in his stomach. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. He left nearly 9,000 drawings, most of which were purchased by the architect John Soane and are currently in the Soane Museum in London.

Architectural practice in Edinburgh

On the death of William Adam, John Adam inherited both the family business and the position of Master Mason of the Council of Artillery. He immediately teamed up with Robert, and they were later joined by James Adam. The Adam brothers' first major commission was the decoration of the large state apartments on the first floor at Hopetoun House, near Queensferry, west of Edinburgh, followed by their first new build at Dumfries House. For the Ordnance Council, the Adam brothers' family business was the main contractor on Fort George&action=edit&redlink=1 "Fort George (Highland) (not yet drafted)"), a large modern fort near Inverness designed by Colonel Skinner, a military engineer. Visits to this project, which began in 1750, would occupy the brothers every summer for the next ten years, and, together with work on many other barracks and forts, gave Robert a solid practical foundation in construction.[5]​.

In the winter of 1749-1750, Adam traveled to London with his friend, the poet John Home. He took the opportunity to study architecture, visiting Wilton, designed by Inigo Jones, and the Queens Hermitage in Richmond (Richmond (London), by Roger Morris). His sketchbook from the trip also shows a continuing interest in Gothic architecture.[5]​.

His friends in Edinburgh included the philosophers Adam Ferguson and David Hume and the artist Paul Sandby whom he met in the Highlands. Other acquaintances from Edinburgh were the aforementioned John Home, Gilbert Elliot, William Wilkie") and Alexander Wedderburn").[5]

The Grand Tour

On October 3, 1754, Robert, in the company of his brother James (who arrived in Brussels), left Edinburgh for his Grand Tour, stopping for a few days in London, where they visited the Mansion House "Mansion House (London"), St Stephen Walbrook"),[4] St. Paul's Cathedral "St. Paul's Cathedral (London"), Windsor "Windsor (England)") and Berkshire, in the company of Thomas Sandby") who he showed them his landscaping at Windsor Great Park and Virginia Water Lake").[4]​ They embarked at the port of Dover "Dover (England)") and arrived at Calais[4]​ on 28 October 1754.[4]​ He joined Charles Hope-Weir"), brother of the Earl of Hope") in Brussels[4]​ and together they traveled to Rome.[4]​ Hope agreed to take Adam on the tour at the suggestion of his uncle, the Marquis of Annandale, who had committed himself to the Grand Tour. While in Brussels the couple attended a play and a masquerade, and visited churches and palaces in the city.[4] They traveled to Tournai, then to Lille, where they visited the Citadal designed by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban.[4] On 12 November 1754 Adam and Hope were in Paris, where they stayed at the Hotel de Notre. Give me.[4]​.

Adam and Hope traveled to Italy together, before separating in Rome after disagreements over travel and accommodation costs. Robert stayed in Rome until 1757, studying classical architecture and perfecting his drawing skills. His tutors were the French architect and artist Charles-Louis Clérisseau), and the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi. In Rome he became acquainted with the work of the pioneering classical archaeologist and art historian and theorist, Johann Joachim Winckelmann. On their return trip, Adam and Clérisseau spent time intensively studying the ruins of Diocletian's Palace at Spalato, in Dalmatia (now known as Split, in modern Croatia).[6] These studies were later published, in 1764, as Ruins of the Palace of the Emperor Diocletian at Spalatro in Dalmatia [Ruins of the Palace of the Emperor Diocletian at Spalato in Dalmatia].

Architectural practice in London

He returned to Britain in 1758 and settled professionally in London with his brother James Adam. They focused on the design of complete projects for decorating and furnishing homes. Palladianism was popular and Robert designed several country houses based on that taste,[7]​ but developing a new, more flexible style that incorporated elements of classical Roman architecture along with Greek, Byzantine and Baroque influences.[7]​ The success of the Adam brothers can also be attributed to their desire to design everything, down to the smallest detail, which ensured a sense of unity in their design.

Public life

Adam was elected a member of the Royal Society of Arts in 1758 and of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1761, the same year he was appointed architect of the King's Works (alongside Sir William Chambers "William Chambers (architect)"). In 1768 his younger brother James replaced him after his resignation, spending more time in his role as Member of Parliament for Kinross.

Robert Adam died at the age of 64 at his home at 11 Albermarle Street, London, due to a problem with a blood vessel in his stomach. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. He left nearly 9,000 drawings, most of which were purchased by the architect John Soane and are currently in the Soane Museum in London.