English Period: Late Renaissance-Neoclassic

The Late Renaissance Neoclassic period began in 1750 and ended in 1830.  There was a revival of interest in arts of Greece and Rome.  The Chiswick House is a perfect example of a Neoclassical home.  Designed by Richard Boyle with William Kent, this house exhibits a classic Palladian style.  The Chiswick House was also the birthplace of the English Landscape Movement.

robert Adams was born into a Scottish Family and took the revival of classic design very seriously.  He was not only an architect, but an interior designer and furniture designer.  His designs were delicate and finely detailed.  Adams worked with a complete integration of all elements including furniture, light fixtures, floor coverings, silver, pottery, and metal work.  1756-1770 was one of his bold, masculine phases.  1770-1792 was a more delicate and feminine design style influenced by French designers at the end of Louis XVI.  Some of the architectural elements found in Adams design  are columns, domes, entablatures, and panels ornamented with classical motifs.  The walls were classical architectural devices and the ceilings were delicate octagons with fans and ellipses.  Some of them even featured Roman stucco decoration.  Other characteristics he incorporated were making his designs symmetrical, painting surfaces, making it extremely formal, and using satinwood.  Some of the colors he used were pale green or cream, with panels of purple or faded rose.  The floors were polished oak and fireplaces were not viewed as the focal point and were made smaller.  Some of the most important pieces included mirrors often made of metal then painted to match the frame.

George Hepplewhite brought the Neoclassic style to the masses and still continues to be used today.  Hepplewhite is mostly known for popularizing satinwood.  Although the construction of his pieces were weak, they were widely recognized.  He never used glass in his doors and used ribbons, vases, fluting, and urns in his decor.  The chairs usually had backs shaped like ovals, shields, or were heart shaped.  Some of the chairs had upholstered backs and ended in a spade foot.

Thomas Sheraton brought a large influx of French furniture in the last decade of the 18th century. The styles that he introduced were identical in style to Louis XVI.  Sheraton was primarily a designer but wrote The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsters' Drawing Book.  When Sheraton was designing, he primarily used satinwood or mahogany.  The chair legs that he used were similar to Hepplewhite's and the backs were square. His style can be described as elegant, crisp and light.  His furniture did not contain any complicated curves.  The ornament was restricted to inlay, marquetry, or painted designs.  Sheraton created the kidney-shaped pedestal desk and his folding furniture was made to be multipurpose.  Silk, satin, toile, brocade, chintz, and damask were his main fabrics found in his work.

Past

Present

Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCDB5t28PrQ