George Dance the Younger
George Dance the Younger was an architect and surveyor from England who was so named to distinguish him from his father George Dance the Elder. Dance was born sometime in the year 1741 the fifth child and the youngest in the family.
He came from a singularly creative family of architects as well as several artists and dramatists. Many people, among them Sir John Summerson, considered him one of the few really significant architects of the period. Unfortunately, very few of Dance's creations remain standing.
It is known that George Dance's brothers attended the Merchant Taylors' School and it is highly probable that Dance did as well. What is certain is that when Dance turned 17 years old, he began studying to become an architect in Italy where his brother Nathaniel was studying painting.
The two brothers would live in Rome, and Dance, who later became a member of academies, quickly showed his potential as an excellent draughtsman. His work during this early period was somewhat reminiscent of Piranesi whom he had met previously.
George Dance the Elder had been the surveyor and architect of the City of London while he was still alive. Upon his death in 1768, Dance took over this position although he was only 27 years old at the time.
Despite his relatively young age, Dance had already managed to make a name for himself with his well-received design of the Blackfriars Bridge, which was exhibited at the Incorporated Society of Artists in 1761.
The rebuilding of the All Hallows-on-the-Wall church, which he completed in 1767 was one of his earliest projects in London. He next worked his first important public project in 1770, which was the rebuilding of the Newgate Prison.
Other notable projects of George Dance included the Guildhall in London, the church of St Bartholomew-the-Less and the design of the Theatre Royal in Bath.
George Dance spent many of the years prior to his death in drawing and by 1798 he was working mostly on chalk portraits. Many of these can still be viewed today at the National Portrait Gallery.
George Dance the Younger died on January 14th, 1825.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 30/07/2008
