Architect Robert Adam
Robert Adam was an architect of Scottish descent who was at various times also an interior designer and furniture designer by trade.
Adam was born on July 3rd, 1728 in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in Scotland to William Adam, a stonemason and later architect from Maryburgh. Robert was the second born son in the family and had as his business partner, his younger brother James who was also an architect of some notoriety, although not to the same level as Robert.
In fact the architectural gene seems to have been widespread in the Adam family. As mentioned earlier his father William was an architect and had a flourishing practice in Scotland. The two other Adam boys were also architects by trade although they did not achieve any significant acclaim.
Robert Adam first attended the Royal High School at Edinburgh before entering the University of Edinburgh in 1743. He would only be at the University for two short years before being forced to leave due to a bout of illness and the impending Jacobite uprising, which would engulf the country in 1745.
The following year would see Robert along with his elder brother John joining his father in the architectural business and the two would continue to work with their father until William's death in 1748. Robert and John then pooled their resources together and became partners in the business, becoming known to their many clients as the Adam Brothers.
The Adam Brothers first notable assignment was at the Hopetoun House, which was near South Queensferry in Edinburgh. Here they would be tasked to redecorate the grand state apartments that lined the first floor of Hopetoun House. Architectural projects at Fort George, Dumfries House and Inveraray would follow in quick succession further cementing the brothers' excellence in the field and ensuring them a steady stream of clients.
Robert Adam would leave for Europe in 1754 on a Grand Tour of the continent, where he would immerse himself in the study of classical architecture and work on developing his drawing skills further. He would spend the majority of his tour in Italy and France where he would come in contact and be subsequently influenced by the noted French architect Charles Lois Clérisseau as well as the eminent archaeologist Giovanni Battista Piranesi who was also an architect.
Adam also spent countless hours scrutinising the ruins of Diocletian's palace in Dalmatia and the fruits of this study would be seen later in the book The Ruins of the Palace of Diocletian which he published in 1764.
Robert Adam finally returned to Great Britain in 1758 where he quickly set about establishing a business in London along with his brothers James and William. This time the trio focused their efforts on decorating and furnishing houses in their entirety, often taking charge of the entire decorative scheme. The Palladian style was then all the rage in England and the brothers followed suit, producing several country houses that drew heavily from this style.
Robert Adam died on March 3rd, 1792.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 30/07/2008
