The Palladian Bridge at Wilton House, in Wiltshire, was built in 1736-37 for Henry Herbert, the 9th Earl of Pembroke. The design was his own, and such was his passion for building that he became known as the ‘Architect Earl’. The bridge crosses the River Nadder which forms the boundary between the formal gardens and informal landscape.
The bridge has been painted by many artists over the centuries including Richard Wilson, John Singer Sargent, Sir John Lavery and Winston Churchill.
But the artist for whom it provided the greatest inspiration was Rex Whistler. Whistler’s archive is in the collection at The Salisbury Museum, where a most enjoyable exhibition, Rex Whistler: The Artist and his Patrons, can be seen until the 24th September 2024.
In May 1925 Whistler first visited Wilton to stay with his friend Edith Olivier, who lived in Daye House within the park. He was entranced, and later wrote to Edith to say that he could still ‘see in my mind’s eye all the intoxicating beautiful spots you showed me’.
Making the greatest impression was the Palladian Bridge, and within a year he had included it in his first major mural commission, In Pursuit of Rare Meats, which decorated the walls of a new restaurant at the Tate Gallery, London.
The bridge also made an appearance in Whistler’s mural for Sir Philip Sassoon at Port Lympne in Kent, and his preparatory drawing is included in the Salisbury exhibition.
Whistler became a regular visitor to Wilton. In 1927 he and his fellow ‘bright young things’ Cecil Beaton and Stephen Tennant were at the grand party to celebrate the coming-of-age of Sidney Herbert. Edith Olivier wrote in her diary that ‘all the beauties of England were there’ and the scene must have been enchanting as a ‘searchlight played on the Palladian Bridge’ and lit up the trees beyond.
In July 1933 Edith Olivier was visited by Lady Ottoline Morrell who took photographs of what was affectionately known to family and friends at Wilton as ‘the Palladian’.
Whistler was given a commission in the Welsh Guards in 1940, but he visited Wilton whilst on leave and continued to paint scenes including the Palladian Bridge. These would be his final views of Wilton: his division was sent to France in June 1944 and he was killed in action on 18 July 1944.
The Rex Whistler exhibition continues until 24 September and is highly recommended. The museum is close to the famed Salisbury Cathedral, and other nearby attractions are Mompesson House (National Trust) and Arundells, the former home of Edward Heath. For more on the museum https://salisburymuseum.org.uk and for Salisbury’s many attractions see https://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/salisbury/things-to-do
The 2024 season at Wilton House ends on 12 September https://www.wiltonhouse.co.uk
Thank you for reading and please get in touch with any thoughts. The comments box can be found at the foot of the page.
TOM GARDNER says:
OK ! NOW YOU’VE DONE IT.
THE PALLADIAN BRIDGE IS (THUS FAR), MY FAVORITE ‘FOLLY’ YOU HAVE SO GENEROUSLY SHOWN US.
YOUR OFFERINGS MAKE ONE REALISE – JUST WHAT A ‘GIFT’ – ONES … VISION – ‘IS’!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ‘VISION’!
TOM (NYC)
Editor says:
Good afternoon Tom. The bridge is rather special and I am delighted it is your favourite (so far, that is!)
Julia Abel Smith says:
Thank you for this delightful post, FF. By coincidence I visited Wilton last week and am now reading the biography of Sidney Herbert (1810-1861) by R. E. Foster. After his marriage to Elizabeth A’Court in London in 1846, Sydney took her out into the garden at Wilton to the Palladian Bridge where ‘darling Sid, who was much moved, took both my hands’. p. 149
A tour of the house is much to be recommended as well as watching the film beforehand.
Editor says:
Good evening Julia. We visited Wilton after seeing the exhibition in Salisbury. Excellent guide and an excellent way to spend a day. The Palladian Bridge must have witnessed many romantic moments ❤️