Lecture The genius of Robert Adam
Robert Adam is one of the giants of English architecture and primarily responsible for the introduction of the elegant neo-classicism which rivalled and then surpassed Lord Burlington’s Palladianism. His greatest work in our area is in the remodelling of 3 of London’s country houses: Osterley Park, Kenwood and Syon House, the seats respectively of the Child bankers, the Mansfield and the Northumberland families. Much survives in central London of which the Adelphi was one of his most ambitious projects.
Walk Great town houses
This is the first of 2 walks which will take in what exists of Adam’s houses in central London. Starting with St James’ Square (1660s) the very first square after Covent Garden we will see nos.11, 20, 21 and 33 by Adam. From there we will pass through extensive survivals of Regency John Nash in the Haymarket, Pall Mall and Trafalgar Square and end with the Adelphi’s project, the Royal Society of Arts.
Lecture Lord Burlington (1694 - 1753) and the Palladian Movement in England
Robert Adam had reacted against the academic purity of Palladianism, whose major protagonist was Lord Burlington. Burlington
became the leader of "taste", and he in turn had opposed the Baroque style of Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor. Palladianism
and its Italian influences was taken up by numerous architects in the early 18th century, such as William Kent and William Chambers, and is to
be seen in such London area buildings as Kensington Palace and Marble Hill, and above all at Chiswick House.
Visit Chiswick House
Following on the previous week's lecture, we will visit the uniquely refined and elegant Chiswick House, Lord Burlington's
own house. The house is strongly influenced by Palladio's Villa Rotunda and Italian elements pervade the building based
on extensive research by Burlington and his protege William Kent. The gardens have recently been restored to their formal
landscaping of Burlington's antique concepts.
Lecture Ham House
Ham House, Richmond, with its restored gardens, is the best of London’s 17th c. country houses. First built by Thomas Vavassour in 1610, it is a model of gracious living. There is also a rich family story centering on Elizabeth, Lady Dysart, a Royalist who continued to live in the house in Cromwell’s interregnum, and her second marriage to Lord Lauderdale, one of the five members of Charles II’s Cabal. Architecture, landscape, decor and family life will be interwoven in this lecture.
Walk Discovering Robert Adam from Chandos House to Fitzroy Square
The second walk will explore the extensive survival of Adam houses in Queen Anne Street, Mansfield Street and Portland Place. From there we will see the work of Nash at Park Crescent, Soane at Holy Trinity church, and other architectural gems en route to Adam’s Fitzroy Square, one of his last works.
Lecture Royalty, Parkland and Gardens
Kew Palace is a royal country house, or rather it is the one survivor of a series of royal residences in the Richmond Old Deer Park and at Kew, where in the 1730s Frederick, Prince of Wales, and Princess Augusta settled. When widowed in 1751 Augusta developed the gardens and founded the Botanical Gardens to be developed by Joseph Banks. This fascinating story of continuing royal residents and the development of the Botanical Gardens through the next century is the theme of this lecture.
All day visit Syon House and Park
Syon House is the London country house of the Duke of Northumberland. Originally a Tudor mansion, the interior was remodelled by Adam, providing one of his most complete and spectacular sequence of neo-classical rooms. The Capability Brown landscaped gardens are extensive, and the Great Conservatory is an inspiring prototype of the Crystal Palace style of building.
