A George III pine door surround. Designed by Robert Adam for Adelphi Terrace (No. 19 Adam Street). Ca. 1768–1772.

A George III pine door surround. Designed by Robert Adam for Adelphi Terrace (No. 19 Adam Street). Ca. 1768–1772. Installed on the landing of the third floor.

Surround: 12’ x 5’6”.

The architect Adam Brothers (John, Robert and James) were leading proponents of neoclassicism in Britain, based especially on the Grand Tours of the eldest brother, John (1721–1792) and the middle brother, Robert (1728–1792). Indeed, Robert was Architect of the King’s Works (the youngest, James, would later hold the post) during the construction of the Adelphi Buildings. Adelphi (from the Greek ἀδελφοί, adelphoi, brothers) was a 24-unit development between the Strand and the river, including reclaimed Thames marshland. Unified in style, it exemplified the London neoclassical.

The pilasters have a single decorative element: seven semicircular flutes. Their capitals have in addition to acanthus leaves a row of palmettes. Across the frieze are four rosette-paterae cupped by floral swags tied with ribbons, all flanked with swagged bucrania and topped with a dentilled cornice. The mixture of richly classical iconography and austere fluting gives the surround an imposing presence. The windowed transom and header are later, but largely sympathetic.

The Adelphi Buildings stood until the 1930’s, when most (including no. 19) were demolished and many replaced by the art deco New Adelphi. Drawings for the interior decoration and furnishings (held at Sir John Soane’s Museum) suggest that the Adams’ designs continued into the house. No. 19 was demolished in 1936.

The Art Institute of Chicago acquired the door in 1938 from Stuart& Turnor for $1,500 (accession no. 1938.12). Sold by the order of their Board at Sotheby’s New York 18 October 1997 (lot 392), where it was acquired.

Harris, John. Moving Rooms. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2007; p. 242, sub “Adelphi.”