An essay by George Saumarez Smith, who was recently appointed as a director at Robert Adam Architects, has been published in Raymond Erith: Progressive Classicist 1904-1973. The catalogue accompanies a new exhibition at Sir John Soane's Museum examining Erith’s work and the influence of Soane, who he famously described as ‘a very rare bird, and unique among the great architects, in being a progressive classicist.” Curated by Lucy Archer, the exhibition is the first overview of his work since the 1976 exhibition at the Royal Academy and featuring new photographs by Mark Fiennes, it promises to introduce his work to a new generation of architects.

George Saumarez Smith’s essay, entitled “In Erith’s Footsteps” discusses his work from the perspective of a young classical architect practising today and explores some of Erith’s greatest buildings with detailed drawing studies. The piece highlights the core characteristics essential to Erith’s work and his admiration of Soane and Palladio, but focuses on his passionate belief in 'progressive classicism'.

Erith believed strongly that architecture should move with the times to meet new challenges and demands, and was interested in the possibilities offered by new materials. However, like his great hero, John Soane, he did not always follow the prevailing stylistic currents of his age. In sharp contrast to many of his contemporaries, Erith believed that progress could be informed by the past and constantly drew creatively on the classical tradition, experimenting with the orders in his designs.