Comments on: ‘Towering Dreams’ at Compton Verney, Warwickshire.

By: Editor

Editor — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 08:18:27 +0000

In reply to David Edgar. 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.

By: David Edgar

David Edgar — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 23:06:43 +0000

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.

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 16:07:08 +0000

In reply to TOM GARDNER. 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.

By: TOM GARDNER

TOM GARDNER — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 16:02:19 +0000

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!

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 10:36:13 +0000

In reply to archaeogail. You won’t regret it Gail!

By: archaeogail

archaeogail — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 10:10:07 +0000

OMG! This looks amazing! Thank you so much for sharing the details, I must plan a trip before it ends in August!

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 08:57:04 +0000

In reply to David Winpenny. 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.

By: David Winpenny

David Winpenny — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 08:49:04 +0000

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’!