A new exhibition has just opened at Compton Verney in Warwickshire: Towering Dreams: Extraordinary Architectural Drawings explores how architects in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries ‘understood the world around them and the ideas and cultures that inspired them’. The majority of the wonderful drawings in the exhibition are on loan from Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, and the subjects include structures we would know today, as well as extraordinary designs that never made it off the drawing board.
The Flâneuse couldn’t resist a jaunt, and wasn’t disappointed. Without giving too much away the exhibition includes works by Piranesi, Robert Adam and Joseph Michael Gandy among others, and features such delights as this wildly ambitious kennel, designed for Frederick Harvey, Bishop of Derry and 4th Earl of Bristol’s estate at Downhill in Northern Ireland. Unsurprisingly, it never made it off the drawing board. Whilst a serious exercise in design, the ancient temple/doghouse created by Soane also has humorous touches, including a cluster of canines clambering around the vase atop the dome.
Many of the works on display, including the title image and the views above, were produced by unidentified draughtsmen in Sir John Soane’s office. They were drawn at a large scale to illustrate Soane’s lectures at the Royal Academy, where he was Professor of Architecture.
This image, showing the vast array of buildings at Kew, near London, against what appears to be a radiant sun, shows Soane’s interest in Sir William Chambers’ designs for the royal gardens at Kew. In January 1820 King George III died, and in a lecture in March of that year Soane ‘took an opportunity, in referring to the different buildings in the Royal gardens at Kew […] to pay an elegant and animated tribute’ to the memory of the late king. Sadly history does not record if this particular view of the garden ornaments was displayed on an easel to illustrate the subject.
The grounds of Compton Verney are sadly lacking in follies, but there is a pretty thatched ice-house.
Museums and galleries are having a tough time at the moment, with many under threat of closure or having to reduce their opening hours, so sponsorship is vital. The Flâneuse is therefore happy to mention that the exhibition is supported by SE-Solicitors who are based, like Compton Verney, in the heart of England.
The exhibition, curated by Jane Simpkiss, can be seen at Compton Verney until 31 August 2025 and the Flâneuse highly recommends a visit. If you don’t already know Compton Verney, there is also a fabulous permanent collection, further special exhibitions and grounds laid out by Capability Brown to explore. Everything you need to know is here.
Thank you for reading. You can share any thoughts via the comments box at the foot of the page.
David Winpenny says:
Despite William Chambers being an old boy of my school, we shouldn’t be too quick to give him the House of Confucius. The RIBA library has a copy of the engraving, but says, ‘The House of Confucius already existed, probably to designs by Goupy, when Chambers came to work at Kew but Chambers had it repaired and altered when it was moved to sit on a bridge at the head of the lake which Chambers designed.’ And Hugh Honor in ‘Chinoiserie’ also ascribes it to Joseph Goupy, fan painter; it had furniture by William Kent upholstered Gobelin tapestries. Honor says Chambers included the Houe in his publication about Kew Gardens ‘to demonstrate the superiority of his own, more ‘correct’ efforts in the same style’!
Editor says:
Hello David. You are right to point out the questions about the authorship of this building. My focus was the exhibition and the drawing by Soane’s office. Thank you for adding this information.
archaeogail says:
OMG! This looks amazing! Thank you so much for sharing the details, I must plan a trip before it ends in August!
Editor says:
You won’t regret it Gail!
TOM GARDNER says:
TOM (NYC)
SADLY, SHY OF 80, AND NOT AS ‘MOBIL’ AS I ONCE WAS; THE THOUGHT OF EVER SEEING AGAIN, ‘THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POND’ – THWARTS MY OPPORTUNITY OF VISITING THE EXHIBITION. ERGO: I THANK U FOR YOUR ARTICLE; THUS ALLOWING ME TO AT LEAST VIEW AND ENJOY THE CARTOONS.
I, ALONG WITH ALL MY FELLOW FOLLOWERS OF YOUR ARTICLES – SAY: BRAVO!
Editor says:
Thanks Tom. I’m sure you have some wonderful exhibitions to see in NYC. I feel the same when I read about the shows your side of the pond that I can’t get to. Thanks for reading my ramblings.
David Edgar says:
The Earl-Bishop was greatly interested in architecture, building first a house at Ballyscullion, Co. Londonderry, from 1787, inspired by Belle Isle, on Lake Windermere, architect John Plaw, and then Ickworth House, near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, from 1796. This is stronly geometrical in shape; having a large central rotunda containing the formal rooms and a pair of curved wings connecting 2-storey blocks, all with Neo-Classical details. It is now a National Trust property.
Editor says:
Good morning David. I have visited Ickworth a number of times, but know little of the Irish works – although a visit is near the top of my list. Thanks for getting in touch.