Adam Dant | The Secret History of Somerset House | 2024 | Hand-tinted line print of 300gsm Saunders Waterford HP paper | Signed and editioned by the artist | Edition of 50 | 76 x 112 cm | £700 (unframed)

Ahead of the reveal of his brand new print 'The Secret History of Somerset House' at this year's London Original Print Fair, Adam Dant told The Londonist all about the histories, inspirations, and hidden details within the piece.

 

 

 

"That Somerset House is now filled with artists, performers, designers, and innovators, is a healthy nod to the most interesting and lively aspects of it's history as a place for theatrical merriment and invention. A huge fire sale took place here when Oliver Cromwell plundered and flogged the collection of of King Charles I including Titians, da Vincis, and Michaelangelos. Fortunately, we now have the treasures of the Courtauld Gallery to admire and inspire us. In my illustration, Samuel Courtauld's peculiar limo and one of his fabric delivery truck can be seen in front of the building's colonnaded facade, whose keystones' carved heads represent the principal rivers of Britain."

 

 

 

 

"I'm particularly fond of the ABC logo of the Aerated Bread Company. The sign of these Prets of their day would have been seen all over town, offering a new type of social space for London's women - an attractive tearoom as an alternative to Covent Garden's grubby inns, and a place where women's public social engagements could enjoy a more prominent footing."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Today, all Londoners will have experienced the perennial (in term time) hoards of lanyard-toting King's College students who wedge up the entire pavement outside their campus between lectures. Adding to the crowd are depictions of famous characters from fiction movies which have been shot here, including Sherlock Holmes, Oscar Wilde, and - perched on his Aston Martin in the courtyard, which was once the inland revenue car park - James Bond."

 

 

 

 

 

"Somerset House is dense with secret histories - too many to mention here. That's why I'm providing a handy key for viewers when they come and see it at the TAG Fine Arts stand at the London Original Print Fair - in the very building where all this incredible stuff took place."

Adam Dant's brand new piece 'The Secret History of Somerset House' is showing at Stand W6, West Wing of Somerset House, for the London Original Print Fair 2024, 21st - 24th March. We will also be publishing a legend, detailing all of the hidden details, histories and meanings within the print.

Read the full interview here; The Londonist, Dive Into This Astoundingly Detailed Illustration of Somerset House

London Original Print Fair 2024

Opening Evening

Wednesday, March 20 | 6 - 9 pm

General Opening Times

Thursday, March 21 | 11 am — 8 pm
Friday, March 22 | 11 am — 8 pm
Saturday, March 23 | 10 am — 6 pm
Sunday, March 24 | 10 am — 6 pm

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