"The foundation of the Royal Academy was the culmination of a great flowering of the arts in England. Long gone was the philistinism of the days of George I. As Reynolds said in his opening address to the Academy, 'There are at this time a greater number of excellent artists than were ever known before at one period of this nation.'
He might well have said, 'In Soho', for during the latter half of the 18th century and the early years of the 19th century, the area was, quite simply, the centre of artistic life. Never can there have been so many skilled craftsmen, painters and sculptors working in one place at one time. The skills brought to England by the Huguenots in the late 17th century now showed themselves in hundreds of workshops - by the middle of the century almost every street had its master clockmaker, jeweller, toymaker or goldsmith. Some of the finest tapestries of the day - 'Soho Tapestries' as they are still know - were woven in the Dean Street area, many in Chinoiserie and Arabesque styles.
Reynolds, Hogarth and Kauffman were but three of the fine artists working in Soho. A glance at the rate books throws up literally hundreds of names of painters and sculptors who were either living or showing their work there. Some were English-born; others were visiting foreigners who, like Canaletto, had been lured over to London with promises of patronage by the gentry.
Johann Zoffany lived on the corner of Soho Square and Frith Street, and later in Great Newport Street. The painter Joseph Francis Nollekens lived at 29, Dean Street, where his miserly son, Joseph, the sculptor, was born in 1737. Cipriani lodged for a time in Whitcomb Street (as the southern tip of Wardour Street was called). Sculptor John Flaxman lived in 27 Poland Street and after the marriage which, according to Reynolds, would leave him 'ruined for an artist' he moved to a 'modest mansion' in Wardour Street. Canaletto lodged in Silver (currently Beak) Street, at the house of a cabinet-maker called Mr.Wiggan, where he invited his patrons to come and see his 'View of St. James's Park'. Painters Thomas Rowlandson and J.M.W.Turner were both educated at the Soho Academy in Soho Square. Rowlandson lated exhibited his work from number 4 Church (currently Romilly) Street.
These are but a handful of artist's names, selected from hundreds which crowd the rate books. If they were all honoured, nearly every house from Greek Street to Glasshouse Street would boast its own Blue Plaque.' (from Judith Summer's vivid 'Soho; a History of London's most Colourful Neighbourhood.' It is hoped that Bloomsbury Press will soon consider reprinting this wonderful and fascinating little book which was awarded the London Tourist Board Special Book of the Year award in 1900).
Bloomsbury Press. 1989