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Dr Frank Salmon is an Associate Professor in the History of Art at the University of Cambridge, specializing in post-medieval British architecture, Roman and Greek antiquarianism, and the works of William Kent, a field in which he has won multiple prestigious awards
Dr. Frank Salmon is an Associate Professor in the History of Art at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of St John’s College. He is a distinguished specialist in the history of post-medieval British architecture viewed within its broader European contexts. His scholarship is highly decorated, with his first book, Building on Ruins: The Rediscovery of Rome and English Architecture (2000), winning both the Whitfield Prize of the Royal Historical Society and the Kostof Prize of the American Society of Architectural Historians.
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Dr. Salmon’s research focuses on the intersection of architectural practice with antiquarianism and classical discovery. He has written extensively on the influence of Roman and Greek archaeology in the 18th and 19th centuries, with notable work on figures like James ‘Athenian’ Stuart and C.R. Cockerell. His current research is dedicated to the public architecture of William Kent, continuing his exploration of foundational figures in British architectural history.
Biography
Frank Salmon was educated at the University of Cambridge and the Courtauld Institute of Art. His academic career began at the University of Manchester, where he lectured from 1989 to 2002. He then held a significant position at the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art in London, where he was the Assistant Director for Academic Activities and an adjunct Associate Professor of the History of Art for Yale University (the Mellon Centre’s parent institution).
He returned to Cambridge in 2006, bringing with him a wealth of research experience and academic leadership. His work consistently addresses how the classical past was rediscovered, interpreted, and utilized by architects to shape the modern British built environment. Beyond his monograph on Rome and English architecture, he also edited the volume Summerson and Hitchcock: Centenary Essays on Architectural Historiography (2006), showcasing his expertise in the historiography of the field.
Core Profile Details
Contact and Availability
Research and Expertise
Dr. Salmon’s expertise is the rigorous historical analysis of British architecture and its intellectual sources in classical antiquity and the Grand Tour.
Key Research Areas
- Post-Medieval British Architecture: Specializing in the history of architecture from the medieval period onward, with a focus on its intellectual and cultural exchange with Europe.
- Classical Antiquarianism: Researching the rediscovery and application of Roman and Greek archaeology in 18th and 19th-century architecture and scholarship.
- The Rediscovery of Rome: Analyzing the impact of Roman ruins on English architectural theory and design practice (Building on Ruins).
- Greek Archaeology: Specific research on figures like James ‘Athenian’ Stuart and C.R. Cockerell (including his discovery of the entasis of the Parthenon).
- William Kent: Current research project focusing on Kent’s influential public architecture.
Associated Funding and Opportunities
Dr. Salmon’s work has been recognized by leading historical and architectural societies:
- Whitfield Prize (2001): Royal Historical Society, for Building on Ruins.
- Kostof Prize (2002): American Society of Architectural Historians, for Building on Ruins.
- Editorial Leadership: Edited Summerson and Hitchcock: Centenary Essays on Architectural Historiography (2006) and The Persistence of the Classical (2009).
Key Publications
- Monograph (2000): Building on Ruins: The Rediscovery of Rome and English Architecture. Yale University Press. (Award-winning foundational text).
- Edited Volume (2009): Salmon, F. (ed.). The Persistence of the Classical. Yale University Press. (Includes his essay on C.R. Cockerell).
- Edited Volume (2006): Salmon, F. (ed.). Summerson and Hitchcock: Centenary Essays on Architectural Historiography. Yale University Press.
- Major Essay (2006): Essay in S. Weber Soros, ed., James ‘Athenian’ Stuart. Yale University Press.
