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Strawberry Hill is the finest example of the [[Gothic Revival]] architecture and interior decoration in England and the country seat of [[Horace Walpole]] (1717 –1797), 4th Earl of Orford. | |||
Strawberry Hill is the finest example of the Gothic Revival architecture and interior decoration in England and the country seat of [[Horace Walpole]] (1717 –1797), 4th Earl of Orford. | |||
== Original Building & Development == | |||
Strawberry Hill started life in 1698 as a small tenement. The three storey house was built by the Earl of Bredford’s coachmen and was called by the common people “Chopp’d Straw-Hall”. It was this undersized, modest building which was rented by Horace Walpole in 1747. As the youngest son of Prime Minister Sir [[Robert Walpole]] he had the means to purchase the property at Twickenham and bought the estate by Act of Parliament in 1748. Shortly afterwards he initiated the rebuilding of the small cottage and immediately started alterations. By bringing back the Gothic style medieval forms were revived in order to oppose the classical styles which dominated at the time. | Strawberry Hill started life in 1698 as a small tenement. The three storey house was built by the Earl of Bredford’s coachmen and was called by the common people “Chopp’d Straw-Hall”. It was this undersized, modest building which was rented by Horace Walpole in 1747. As the youngest son of Prime Minister Sir [[Robert Walpole]] he had the means to purchase the property at Twickenham and bought the estate by Act of Parliament in 1748. Shortly afterwards he initiated the rebuilding of the small cottage and immediately started alterations. By bringing back the Gothic style medieval forms were revived in order to oppose the classical styles which dominated at the time. | ||
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The transformation into a Gothic castle took several years and is characterised by alterations of and additions to the existing building. Between 1747 and 1792 Walpole increased the estate’s size - he expanded the grounds of the estate by degrees from its original 5 to 46 acres - created Gothic rooms and added towers and battlements in order to increase the impression of a medieval castle. The library for example was entirely new built in 1753, the gallery, round tower and cabinet in 1760-61 and the great north bed-chamber in 1770. Finally, in 1776 the Beauclerc Tower with its hexagon closet was finished. Above all, Walpole landscaped the garden with Gothic architectural features. The cost for turning Strawberry Hill into a celebrated example of the Neo-Gothic amounted to almost £21,000. | The transformation into a Gothic castle took several years and is characterised by alterations of and additions to the existing building. Between 1747 and 1792 Walpole increased the estate’s size - he expanded the grounds of the estate by degrees from its original 5 to 46 acres - created Gothic rooms and added towers and battlements in order to increase the impression of a medieval castle. The library for example was entirely new built in 1753, the gallery, round tower and cabinet in 1760-61 and the great north bed-chamber in 1770. Finally, in 1776 the Beauclerc Tower with its hexagon closet was finished. Above all, Walpole landscaped the garden with Gothic architectural features. The cost for turning Strawberry Hill into a celebrated example of the Neo-Gothic amounted to almost £21,000. | ||
== The “Committee of Taste” == | |||
Due to the fact that the result of the project should first and foremost meet Walpole’s own aesthetic vision and requirements he established the “Committee of Taste” in spring 1750. The committee, consisting of himself, amateur architect John Chute and draftsman Richard Bentley, devoted itself to the idea of finding a new style which had to be adequate for the estate. While John Chute may be considered as the main antiquarian and heraldic influence, Richard Bentley focused on the interiors and decoration. Each modification had to promote the gothicising of Strawberry Hill. | Due to the fact that the result of the project should first and foremost meet Walpole’s own aesthetic vision and requirements he established the “Committee of Taste” in spring 1750. The committee, consisting of himself, amateur architect John Chute and draftsman Richard Bentley, devoted itself to the idea of finding a new style which had to be adequate for the estate. While John Chute may be considered as the main antiquarian and heraldic influence, Richard Bentley focused on the interiors and decoration. Each modification had to promote the gothicising of Strawberry Hill. | ||
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The fascination which originates from the building rests upon various elements of surprise, emphasised by the diversity of the interior and exterior outlook. Further on the theatrical use of light and colour contributes to the atmosphere of the house. Beside the distinct interest in the design of fireplaces, ceilings and staircases, Walpole developed an affinity for painted glass with rustic and biblical scenes and heraldry. He primarily used stained glass of English, Dutch or Flemish origin, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. By using spolia of this sort he wanted to enrich the gothic windows and above all a lively and colourful background for the carefully contrived displays within the rooms should be created. | The fascination which originates from the building rests upon various elements of surprise, emphasised by the diversity of the interior and exterior outlook. Further on the theatrical use of light and colour contributes to the atmosphere of the house. Beside the distinct interest in the design of fireplaces, ceilings and staircases, Walpole developed an affinity for painted glass with rustic and biblical scenes and heraldry. He primarily used stained glass of English, Dutch or Flemish origin, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. By using spolia of this sort he wanted to enrich the gothic windows and above all a lively and colourful background for the carefully contrived displays within the rooms should be created. | ||
His Grand Tour and the travels through England inspired him just as the study of various folios of engravings which depicted interiors, roofs and ornaments of great gothic abbeys and cathedrals. By doing so he hoped to find source material for the rebuilding. The selection of inspirational material showed a marked affinity with the Perpendicular period of 1330-1550. The Committee’s method was to take numerous details of Gothic buildings, such as decorative elements of exterior medieval Gothic which were then used for the interior decoration, and utilize them for the purpose. Although Walpole’s approach is not at all scholarly and his style anything but “authentic”, he tried to keep up the appearance of authenticity. He merely ornamented his residence with details borrowed from the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries. The Gothic style functions as source of inspiration and was primarily used for its picturesque qualities. Stylistic elements are reproduced without regard for either original function or meaning. | His [[Grand Tour]] and the travels through England inspired him just as the study of various folios of engravings which depicted interiors, roofs and ornaments of great gothic abbeys and cathedrals. By doing so he hoped to find source material for the rebuilding. The selection of inspirational material showed a marked affinity with the Perpendicular period of 1330-1550. The Committee’s method was to take numerous details of Gothic buildings, such as decorative elements of exterior medieval Gothic which were then used for the interior decoration, and utilize them for the purpose. Although Walpole’s approach is not at all scholarly and his style anything but “authentic”, he tried to keep up the appearance of authenticity. He merely ornamented his residence with details borrowed from the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries. The Gothic style functions as source of inspiration and was primarily used for its picturesque qualities. Stylistic elements are reproduced without regard for either original function or meaning. | ||
'''Sources | '''Sources ''' | ||
''' | |||
Chalcraft, Anna; Judith Viscardi. ''Strawberry Hill: Horace Walpole’s Gothic Castle''. London: Frances Lincoln, 2007. | Chalcraft, Anna; Judith Viscardi. ''Strawberry Hill: Horace Walpole’s Gothic Castle''. London: Frances Lincoln, 2007. | ||
Revision as of 16:33, 8 January 2018
Strawberry Hill is the finest example of the Gothic Revival architecture and interior decoration in England and the country seat of Horace Walpole (1717 –1797), 4th Earl of Orford.
Original Building & Development
Strawberry Hill started life in 1698 as a small tenement. The three storey house was built by the Earl of Bredford’s coachmen and was called by the common people “Chopp’d Straw-Hall”. It was this undersized, modest building which was rented by Horace Walpole in 1747. As the youngest son of Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole he had the means to purchase the property at Twickenham and bought the estate by Act of Parliament in 1748. Shortly afterwards he initiated the rebuilding of the small cottage and immediately started alterations. By bringing back the Gothic style medieval forms were revived in order to oppose the classical styles which dominated at the time.
The transformation into a Gothic castle took several years and is characterised by alterations of and additions to the existing building. Between 1747 and 1792 Walpole increased the estate’s size - he expanded the grounds of the estate by degrees from its original 5 to 46 acres - created Gothic rooms and added towers and battlements in order to increase the impression of a medieval castle. The library for example was entirely new built in 1753, the gallery, round tower and cabinet in 1760-61 and the great north bed-chamber in 1770. Finally, in 1776 the Beauclerc Tower with its hexagon closet was finished. Above all, Walpole landscaped the garden with Gothic architectural features. The cost for turning Strawberry Hill into a celebrated example of the Neo-Gothic amounted to almost £21,000.
The “Committee of Taste”
Due to the fact that the result of the project should first and foremost meet Walpole’s own aesthetic vision and requirements he established the “Committee of Taste” in spring 1750. The committee, consisting of himself, amateur architect John Chute and draftsman Richard Bentley, devoted itself to the idea of finding a new style which had to be adequate for the estate. While John Chute may be considered as the main antiquarian and heraldic influence, Richard Bentley focused on the interiors and decoration. Each modification had to promote the gothicising of Strawberry Hill.
The fascination which originates from the building rests upon various elements of surprise, emphasised by the diversity of the interior and exterior outlook. Further on the theatrical use of light and colour contributes to the atmosphere of the house. Beside the distinct interest in the design of fireplaces, ceilings and staircases, Walpole developed an affinity for painted glass with rustic and biblical scenes and heraldry. He primarily used stained glass of English, Dutch or Flemish origin, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. By using spolia of this sort he wanted to enrich the gothic windows and above all a lively and colourful background for the carefully contrived displays within the rooms should be created.
His Grand Tour and the travels through England inspired him just as the study of various folios of engravings which depicted interiors, roofs and ornaments of great gothic abbeys and cathedrals. By doing so he hoped to find source material for the rebuilding. The selection of inspirational material showed a marked affinity with the Perpendicular period of 1330-1550. The Committee’s method was to take numerous details of Gothic buildings, such as decorative elements of exterior medieval Gothic which were then used for the interior decoration, and utilize them for the purpose. Although Walpole’s approach is not at all scholarly and his style anything but “authentic”, he tried to keep up the appearance of authenticity. He merely ornamented his residence with details borrowed from the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries. The Gothic style functions as source of inspiration and was primarily used for its picturesque qualities. Stylistic elements are reproduced without regard for either original function or meaning.
Sources
Chalcraft, Anna; Judith Viscardi. Strawberry Hill: Horace Walpole’s Gothic Castle. London: Frances Lincoln, 2007.
Furgusson, James. History of the Modern Styles of Architecture: Being a Sequel to the Handbook of Architecture. London: J.Murray, 1862.
Miller, Norbert. Strawberry Hill - Horace Walpole und die Ästhetik der schönen Umgebung. München: Hanser, 1986.