Chiswick House, London, England, Lord Burlington (Richard Boyle) and William Kent, 1725-1729
[Lecture, Buildings Across Time, pp. 381-384]
Palladian window (Serliana), thermal window
1. What Renaissance architect and buildings inspired Lord Burlington when he designed Chiswick House?
- Comparison of Palladio’s Villa Rotunda
- Lord Burlington and William Kent
2. Describe the exterior appearance of Chiswick House. What are some of the characteristics borrowed
from the Italian
Renaissance? What about the design is new or innovative?
- the shape of windows with a semi-circle and Doric pilaster on each side of the
window at the top Serliana is another word for it
- Interior: Statues of palladio and indigo. Octagonal dome. Circular rotunda. Tripartite façade.
Rustication masonry on bottom of the façade. Thermal windows.
3. What was the main building of Chiswick House used for?
Now serves as a venue for corporate events or event venue for anything. In the past, as art
gallery for wealthy lords. Also an asylum.
,Holkham Hall, Norfolk, William Kent, 1734 [Lecture, Buildings Across Time, p. 384]
1. Who was this house built for? How did his “Grand Tour” lead to the interior being designed to be a ‘temple of the arts’?
- Built FOR Thomas Coke (The First Earl of Leicester) as a “temple of arts” and a family residence.
- Went on a tour with Thomas Coke ad admired classical architecture and collected art
Garden was designed by Lancelot ‘Capability” Brown
2. What Palladian characteristics are seen on the exterior of Holkham Hall? What are some of the characteristics borrowed
from the Italian Renaissance?
- Exemplified Palladian ideals - tripartite design, rustication, and temple facade, Palladian windows. Marble hall. Palladian
windows.
3. How does the interior design and decoration reflect an interest in ancient art and architecture?
- Palladian windows on the facade overlooking the garden. The saloon was designed for entertaining and
displaying art collections acquired on the Grand Tour. Marble Hall (actually made of
Staffordshire alabaster) Colonnade is a copy of the Temple of Fortuna Virilis in Rome. Ceiling inspired by
Pantheon. The statues are plaster copies of ancient Greek and Roman gods.The Statue Gallery showcases
a collection of ancient Roman sculpture dating to the 1st -3rd centuries
4. How does this great house manage to survive in the 21st century?
Today it is still the Coke family home and farming estate, welcomes tourists, and hosts weddings and celebrations
,General Questions:
1. Who are the Neo-Palladians and what motivated them to move away from the earlier
Baroque style?
• - Palladianism → an 18th century arch style that architects adapted to 16th century
designs of Andrea Palladio to contemporary conditions
• Andrea Palladio style resembles classical architecture the best and more unique
way
• Returning to the principles of classical architecture - promoting Palladio’s
Baroque Architecture
• Colen Campbell (1676-1729) → Scottish architect and editor of Vitruvius
Britannicus - shows his (Vitruvius) designs in contemporary society
• Richard Boyle (1694-1753) → 3rd Earl of Burlington - Fourth Earl of Cork 🡪
belonged to the Whigs and supported Hannover kings - style to fit the king’s
wants - studies Palladio and Italian styles - inspired by Vitruvius, Palladio, Inigo
Jones, and Campbell
2. What was the “Grand Tour” and how did it contribute to Neo-Palladian architecture
and art collecting in Europe?
- by wealthy young European men to gain classical edu. Collected art and artifacts. The
tour allowed them to expand their knowledge.
, Syon House, London, England, Robert Adam, 1761-1769 [Lecture, Buildings Across Time, pp. 386-387]
1 What was the original function of this structure? When and why was it transformed into something
else?
- Originally a Tudor nunnery - a church
- Transformation of the Great Hall into an entrance
- Modeled after an ancient roman basilica Decorated with copies of ancient sculpture that
were discovered in excavation
2. Who employed Robert Adam? Who owns Syon House and what is it used for today?
- Now belongs to The Duke of Northumberland - Owned property or 400 Years and guarding the
place and keeping it safe. Venue for filming.
- William Murray employed Robert A.
3. What style of architecture was used by Robert Adam to redesign the building? What are some of
the characteristics seen in
the rooms?
the Anteroom - a side room
Neoclassical details - ionic columns and colored marble, frieze, entablature, gilded statues of gods and goddesses. Baroque qualities as well
Adam Style → combination of classical elements and gilded stucco and decorative panels inset into the wall with flooring in a colorful variety of tiles
Gilded trophies on the sides of the Grand Hall entrance from the Anteroom
[Lecture, Buildings Across Time, pp. 381-384]
Palladian window (Serliana), thermal window
1. What Renaissance architect and buildings inspired Lord Burlington when he designed Chiswick House?
- Comparison of Palladio’s Villa Rotunda
- Lord Burlington and William Kent
2. Describe the exterior appearance of Chiswick House. What are some of the characteristics borrowed
from the Italian
Renaissance? What about the design is new or innovative?
- the shape of windows with a semi-circle and Doric pilaster on each side of the
window at the top Serliana is another word for it
- Interior: Statues of palladio and indigo. Octagonal dome. Circular rotunda. Tripartite façade.
Rustication masonry on bottom of the façade. Thermal windows.
3. What was the main building of Chiswick House used for?
Now serves as a venue for corporate events or event venue for anything. In the past, as art
gallery for wealthy lords. Also an asylum.
,Holkham Hall, Norfolk, William Kent, 1734 [Lecture, Buildings Across Time, p. 384]
1. Who was this house built for? How did his “Grand Tour” lead to the interior being designed to be a ‘temple of the arts’?
- Built FOR Thomas Coke (The First Earl of Leicester) as a “temple of arts” and a family residence.
- Went on a tour with Thomas Coke ad admired classical architecture and collected art
Garden was designed by Lancelot ‘Capability” Brown
2. What Palladian characteristics are seen on the exterior of Holkham Hall? What are some of the characteristics borrowed
from the Italian Renaissance?
- Exemplified Palladian ideals - tripartite design, rustication, and temple facade, Palladian windows. Marble hall. Palladian
windows.
3. How does the interior design and decoration reflect an interest in ancient art and architecture?
- Palladian windows on the facade overlooking the garden. The saloon was designed for entertaining and
displaying art collections acquired on the Grand Tour. Marble Hall (actually made of
Staffordshire alabaster) Colonnade is a copy of the Temple of Fortuna Virilis in Rome. Ceiling inspired by
Pantheon. The statues are plaster copies of ancient Greek and Roman gods.The Statue Gallery showcases
a collection of ancient Roman sculpture dating to the 1st -3rd centuries
4. How does this great house manage to survive in the 21st century?
Today it is still the Coke family home and farming estate, welcomes tourists, and hosts weddings and celebrations
,General Questions:
1. Who are the Neo-Palladians and what motivated them to move away from the earlier
Baroque style?
• - Palladianism → an 18th century arch style that architects adapted to 16th century
designs of Andrea Palladio to contemporary conditions
• Andrea Palladio style resembles classical architecture the best and more unique
way
• Returning to the principles of classical architecture - promoting Palladio’s
Baroque Architecture
• Colen Campbell (1676-1729) → Scottish architect and editor of Vitruvius
Britannicus - shows his (Vitruvius) designs in contemporary society
• Richard Boyle (1694-1753) → 3rd Earl of Burlington - Fourth Earl of Cork 🡪
belonged to the Whigs and supported Hannover kings - style to fit the king’s
wants - studies Palladio and Italian styles - inspired by Vitruvius, Palladio, Inigo
Jones, and Campbell
2. What was the “Grand Tour” and how did it contribute to Neo-Palladian architecture
and art collecting in Europe?
- by wealthy young European men to gain classical edu. Collected art and artifacts. The
tour allowed them to expand their knowledge.
, Syon House, London, England, Robert Adam, 1761-1769 [Lecture, Buildings Across Time, pp. 386-387]
1 What was the original function of this structure? When and why was it transformed into something
else?
- Originally a Tudor nunnery - a church
- Transformation of the Great Hall into an entrance
- Modeled after an ancient roman basilica Decorated with copies of ancient sculpture that
were discovered in excavation
2. Who employed Robert Adam? Who owns Syon House and what is it used for today?
- Now belongs to The Duke of Northumberland - Owned property or 400 Years and guarding the
place and keeping it safe. Venue for filming.
- William Murray employed Robert A.
3. What style of architecture was used by Robert Adam to redesign the building? What are some of
the characteristics seen in
the rooms?
the Anteroom - a side room
Neoclassical details - ionic columns and colored marble, frieze, entablature, gilded statues of gods and goddesses. Baroque qualities as well
Adam Style → combination of classical elements and gilded stucco and decorative panels inset into the wall with flooring in a colorful variety of tiles
Gilded trophies on the sides of the Grand Hall entrance from the Anteroom
