In celebration of the Three Classicists

In 2025 we marked the 15th anniversary of Three Classicists, an exhibition of architectural drawings by George Saumarez Smith, Ben Pentreath and Francis Terry at the RIBA headquarters in London.

More than just a showcase of classical design, the 2010 exhibition presented a longstanding friendship: connected not just by a love of tradition and classical architecture, but also by a shared sense of joy and creative spirit, and a passion for hand-drawing.

These elements were at the heart of exhibition, quite literally – as the trio drew together in a central space, creating a depiction of a classical scene featuring a monumental gateway.

Intended as a Salon des Refusés, the idea for the exhibition was born of Francis and George’s frustration at their rejections from the Royal Academy’s Summer Show, in turn bolstered by Ben’s sympathy for the pair.

The friendship of the trio was rooted in their interest in traditional architecture, at a time when to admit this was deeply unfashionable, to the point of being counter cultural. Francis’s father Quinlan was the professional partner of George’s grandfather Raymond Erith, while Ben and George met studying at the University of Edinburgh.

The Three Classicists exhibition marked a turning point in the resurgence of classicism in Britain, acting to remind many of the simple, enduring pleasure of drawing by hand, an act which still resonates powerfully today.

Recently, the three classicists reunited at the British Museum for a new portrait, and on The Country House Podcast, where they explored their inspirations and motivations for the exhibition. You can listen to the podcast here or watch on YouTube.

The Three Classicists is an illustrated book featuring drawings and work by architects George Saumarez Smith, Ben Pentreath, and Francis Terry. It was originally published by the RIBA in 2010.