Week 13 English Late Renaissance

December 05, 2024

Week 13 English Late Renaissance

English Late Renaissance

A large influence of the Late English Renaissance was Robert Adam, he was an architect and interior designer from 1728-1792. He rejected the Palladian style that was introduced by Indigo Jones and was instead inspired by the classical era. He applied these concepts of movement into his interiors. There was a revival of interest in arts of Greece and Rome in this period and a reaction against the French Rococo style. Adam's style worked with a complete integration of all elements, furniture, lighting, flooring, and metal work. There were also different phases of the Adam style, from 1756- 1770 it was bold, masculine and large in size. 1770-1792 the style was more delicate and feminine this influenced more the French designers at the end of Louis XVI. The Adam characteristics also consisted of ceiling and column detailing. There were lots of painted surfaces and designs, satinwood, and was considered to be a very formal style.

The interiors of the Adam style were filled with color, lots of pale greens or creme tones. It was also popular to have panels of purple or faded rose. The flooring was generally polished oak, or carpets that had patterns to match the design of the ceiling. There were commonly fireplaces, however, they were not the focal point and were much smaller than fireplaces are now. Mirrors were also common in this time, normally oval and flat with dainty detailing on the top of the arrangement. The mirrors were often metal and then painted to match the frame. Adam fabrics included, moire, brocade, satin, stripes, and toile. These were each unique in their own way and had specific characteristics to each of their own designs.

George Hepplewhite was an English cabinet and furniture maker; his designs were not famous while he was living. After his death his wife put together a book of his designs and they brought the neoclassic style to the masses and is still used today. His designs popularized satinwood and used banding with different woods. There was lots of furniture that was invented in this time, the sideboard became popular as well as the Pembroke table and washstand. Chairs in this period had straight, slender legs that would have been slightly tapered.

Thomas Sheraton had a large influx of French furniture in the last decade of the 18th century. This style is identical to the style in Louis XVI, the Empire style was also increasing. Sheraton was primarily a furniture designer, he also used lots of satinwood. Chair legs were similar to Hepplewhite and the backs were square in shape, and lots were often small pieces for a dressing room. Furniture were not complicated curves. He also created the kidney shaped pedestal desk, sideboard with a brass rod, and folding furniture.