English Renaissance- Neoclassic

The late renaissance neoclassic period lasted from 1750-1830 and was a Georgian style. Robert Adams was a man who was serious about the revival of classical design. He was an architect, interior designer, and a furniture designer. His designs were delicate and finely detailed and the architectural effects he used were classical columns/pilasters, entablatures, arch forms, domes and panels ornamented with classical motifs. 

An example of Robert Adams design is Lansdowne House in London. You can see from the picture below he used a lot of classical architectural devices with the columns, pilasters and entablatures, arched niches, and medallions enclosing classical bas-relief. Also, panels were usually sunk into the wall and the ceilings were delicate with octagon, fans, and ellipses. 

Lansdowne House

The Syon House was an extremely formal style with painted surfaces and designs. This house had complete unity to the total composition. The plans are usually elliptical or rectangular with semicircular end walls or with apses. The ceilings were normally tinted and painted and the walls were generally pale green or cream with panels of purple or faded rose. 

 

The video below gives a virtual tour of the Syon House and its surroundings.

The most important pieces were mirrors. They were usually oval in a flat, reeded molding. it contained open linear delicate design of festoons, and swags of husks or bellflowers. The mirrors were often metal and then painted to match the frame.

Thomas Sheraton was a man who had a large influx of French furniture in the last decade of the 18th century. He was primarily a designer and his style was elegant, crisp and light. His chairs had square back legs and seats with an ornate top rail. He used lyre, vase, oval or diamond forms. Also, drapery festoon was found throughout his designs. His three main creations were the kidney-shaped pedestal desk, sideboard with a brass rod, and folding furniture. 

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Discussion: 

From Justine's blog I learned a lot about the furniture. Comfort was an important factor for these new standards and upholstery showed up for the first time. I also learned that William Kent and Queen Ann were two other people who made an impact on the interior design community of this time. Ariana taught me that the biggest export from the English Renaissance is an exterior- the Tudor style home built with timber framing.