Historic Royal Academy Staircase
Designed by Sir William Chambers ca 1780, this steep staircase formed part of the original Somerset House complex. It is now part of the Courtauld Galleries.
In the early 19th century, it was noted for its parade of fashionable ladies and gentlemen, up and down, while visiting the exhibitions there. Thomas Rowlandson lampooned the traffic in his saucy illustration of the Stare Case, in which ladies tumbled while men watched!
www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_image....
Historic Royal Academy Staircase
Designed by Sir William Chambers ca 1780, this steep staircase formed part of the original Somerset House complex. It is now part of the Courtauld Galleries.
In the early 19th century, it was noted for its parade of fashionable ladies and gentlemen, up and down, while visiting the exhibitions there. Thomas Rowlandson lampooned the traffic in his saucy illustration of the Stare Case, in which ladies tumbled while men watched!
www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_image....