Art Sunday; Robert Adam, born 3 July 1728

Robert Adam
Born: 3-Jul-1728
Birthplace: Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland.
Died: 3-Mar-1792
Location of death: London, England
Cause of death: unspecified
Remains: Buried, Westminster Abbey
Occupation: Best known as Architect, but also interior designer, furniture designer, author of architectural books and toward the end of his life painter of mythical landscapes.
Nationality: Scotland
Executive summary: Scottish Neoclassical architect
Father: William Adam (architect and stonemason, b. 1689, d. 1748)
Brother: John Adam
Brother: James Adam (b. 1730, d. 1794)
Brother: William Adam
High School: Edinburgh High School
University: University of Edinburgh (attended 1743-45)
Royal Academy of Arts 1758
Society of Antiquaries 1761


He was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer, furniture designer and landscape painter. He was the son of William Adam (1689–1748), Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him. With his older brother John, Robert took on the family business, which included lucrative work for the Board of Ordnance, after William's death.
Is the subject of books:
Robert Adam and His Circle, in Edinburgh & Rome, 1962, BY: John Fleming
Robert Adam, 1970, BY: Doreen Yarwood


Author of books:
The Ruins of the Palace of Diocletian

. Robert Adam spent five weeks in Spalatro in July-August 1757, accompanied by Clerisseau and two other draughtsmen, making the drawings that are the basis of the volume. Adam's original intention had been to go to Greece to produce a work to rival that of Stuart and Revett, but his decision to go to Spalatro instead, and to record the late Roman imperial palace there, offered particular opportunities for grand engravings in the manner of Piranesi. Publication of the book took some years, for production of the engravings was shared between a team of Italian engravers (Bartolozzi, Cunego, Santini, Zocchi) supervised in Venice by his brother James, and English engravers who produced the simpler elevations and ground plans. The result was a volume of very considerable distinction which advertised Adam's taste and professional abilities, as well as showing that Roman architecture could be as impressive as the best Greek buildings portrayed by Stuart and Revett. Robert and James Adam have long been credited with giving birth to the eighteenth century neo classical movement that changed the face of architecture in Britain.


Robert Adam was leader of the first phase of the classical revival in England and Scotland from around 1760 until his death. He influenced the development of Western architecture, both in Europe and in North America. Adam was not content with providing houses for his clients but very ready to design the fittings and accessories as well. Influential Scottish architect Robert Adam (1728 - 92) was responsible for much Georgian development in London's architecture not only in fine public buildings such as the original Adelphi theatre near the Strand, but also in designs for their interiors. His study of neo-classical architecture in Italy during his "Grand Tour" had been a major source of inspiration and his treatment of ceilings such as this from No 5 Royal Terrace in the Adelphi development was closely derived from ancient Roman examples.



The National Gallery of Scotland has revealed a previously undiscovered side to the work of Robert Adam (1728 – 1792), his landscape fantasies. The exhibition was dedicated to his picturesque landscapes which were made towards the end of his life, purely for his own relaxation and enjoyment.