Robert Adam

Robert Adam was one smooth operator when it came to design. He was all about that neoclassical style, which was all the rage in the 18th century.

Portrait attributed to George Willison

He was born in Kirkcaldy, a small town in Scotland, on July 3, 1728. Adam was the second son of William Adam, a prominent architect who had a huge influence on Robert's future career.

Growing up, Robert was exposed to the world of architecture and design from an early age. His father was a busy man, and he often took Robert and his siblings with him to visit construction sites and meet with clients.

Robert's education was a bit unorthodox - he was homeschooled by his mother until the age of 10, and then he attended a local grammar school. But it was clear from a young age that he had a natural talent for drawing and design.

In 1748, when Robert was 20 years old, his father took him on a grand tour of Europe. They visited France, Italy, and the Low Countries, where Robert was exposed to some of the most magnificent architecture and art in the world. This trip had a profound impact on Robert and would shape his future work.

He was known for creating some seriously fancy buildings, like the grand Syon House in London and the extravagant Culzean Castle in Scotland. This dude was all about the details, and he loved to incorporate ornate carvings and intricate moldings into his designs.

Syon House By ChristianSW - Own work, Wikipedia

One thing that set Adam apart from other architects of his time was his focus on interior design. He was all about creating a cohesive look between the inside and outside of a building, and he designed everything from furniture to wallpaper to make sure it all looked totally badass.

And get this - Robert Adam was a bit of a trailblazer when it came to architecture. He wasn't content to just copy the styles of the past, he wanted to create something fresh and new. So he mixed up elements of different styles, like Greek and Roman architecture, to create his own unique aesthetic.

Here's a couple of anecdotes:

Robert Adam was once asked to design a summerhouse for the Duchess of Devonshire. When he presented his design, the Duchess complained that it was too plain and lacking in ornamentation. In response, Adam designed an elaborate structure with intricate carvings, ornate details, and a sculpture of the goddess Venus on the roof. When the Duchess complained that it was too expensive, Adam simply replied, "Madam, the Venus alone is worth the money."

Adam was a stickler for details and liked to supervise all aspects of his projects. One time, he visited a construction site and found that the stonemasons hadn't followed his plans exactly. So, he made them demolish the entire structure and start over again, which made the project's owner pretty mad.

 Let's take a look at some of the other aspects of Robert Adam's life.

HOMES: Robert Adam did not have a single home that he lived in throughout his life. As a successful and wealthy architect, he designed and built many grand houses for his clients, but he did not have a house that was exclusively his own.

Instead, Adam lived in various locations throughout his life. He spent much of his childhood in Edinburgh, where his family had a townhouse. As an adult, he primarily lived and worked in London, where he had an office and design studio. He also had a country house, known as Osterley Park, which he designed and built for Sir Francis Child, a wealthy banker.

BELIEFS: Politically, Adam lived during a time of great change and upheaval in Britain. He was born in Scotland at a time when there was significant political and social unrest, as many Scots sought greater autonomy and independence from England. However, Adam himself did not appear to be particularly politically active or outspoken, and there is no record of his involvement in any political movements or parties.

Religiously, Adam was likely brought up in the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, which was the predominant religion in the country at the time. However, he appears to have been fairly secular in his outlook, and there is no record of him being particularly devout or involved in religious organizations.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Robert Adam never married, but he had a close relationship with his brothers, James and John. In fact, the three of them worked together on many of their architectural projects, forming the firm of Adam Brothers. Robert was also known to have had many close friendships with fellow architects and artists of his time, including Sir Joshua Reynolds and Giovanni Battista Piranesi.

HOBBIES:

Robert Adam had a keen interest in the arts, including painting, sculpture, and decorative arts. He was a talented draftsman and enjoyed sketching and drawing in his free time. He was also an avid traveler and loved to explore new places and cultures, which no doubt influenced his work as an architect.

MUSIC:

Robert Adam had close friendships with many musicians and composers of his time, such as Johann Christian Bach and Carl Friedrich Abel. He was also a patron of the arts and commissioned works by these musicians for various events and occasions.

FRIENDS:

He had a close working relationship with his brothers, James and John, and they formed the firm of Adam Brothers together. Adam also had a close friendship with the artist Sir Joshua Reynolds, whom he collaborated with on many projects.

On one occasion, while working on a project in Edinburgh, Adam and his brother James decided to hold a costume ball in their unfinished building site. They transformed the space into a grand ballroom and invited over 500 guests, who arrived dressed in elaborate costumes. The event was a huge success and became one of the most talked-about parties of the season.

SENSE OF HUMOR

Robert Adam was known for his love of practical jokes. One of his most famous pranks involved painting the back of a dining chair with a trompe l'oeil design of a woman's petticoat, so that it appeared that anyone sitting in the chair had a skirt on. The prank was so convincing that guests at the dinner party were startled when they stood up and realized they were not wearing a skirt.

DEATH

Robert Adam had been plagued by stomach and bowel issues for a considerable period, likely due to a peptic ulcer and irritable bowel syndrome. Sensing his impending demise, Adam composed his will on March 2, 1792. Since he never married, he bequeathed his estate to his sisters, Elizabeth Adam and Margaret Adam.

While he was at home at 11 Albemarle Street in London on March 1, 1792, one of his ulcers ruptured, and he passed away on March 3. 

A funeral was held on March 10, and Adam was interred in Westminster Abbey's south aisle. His clients, including the likes of Henry Scott, George Coventry, James Maitland, David Murray, Lord Frederick Campbell, and Sir William Pulteney, served as pallbearers.