Design for a New House of Lords: plan (insert) and perspective, 1794

Sir John Soane RA (1753 - 1837)

RA Collection: Art

Sir John Soane's choice of subject for his Diploma Work - a project for a magnificent new House of Lords in the neo-classical style dating from 1794 - was by no means mere paper architecture at the time he sent it in to the Academy on 20 March 1802. Only a week later the Peace of Amiens, under negotiation since 1 October 1801, was signed with France, opening up a real prospect that the medieval rabbit warren currently occupied by their lordships could at last be replaced by a new, purpose-built Upper House. Soane - like everyone else - could not have known that war was to break out again the following year, postponing any chance of realising his dreams for another twelve years.