Week 12- English Renaissance-Neoclassic

 This week in history of interiors we learned about the English Period Early Renaissance and Mid Renaissance.  

The Early Renaissance period was from 1550-1660, which was during the age of the oak, this was broken into four periods named after the rulers during that time. The Middle Renaissance was from 1660-1750, which was also during four different ruler's reigns. Last was the Late Renaissance from 1750-1830, broken into four periods, ending with Neoclassical.  

The Early Renaissance was influenced by the climate and local materials, creating new forms from a change in ornamentation. The climate allowed for French doors and large windows to allow light and warmth. The English were great at wood working, creating timbered roofs, and eliminating sculpted ornamentation.  

During the reign of Henry VIII there was conflict with the Pope. This resulted in suppression of monasteries, confiscation of land, which increased the number of houses and land being given to wealthy merchants and traders. The Tudor Style became evident with timber framed construction, starting the renaissance, creating luxurious buildings with a focus on churches, official buildings, and furnishings programs. Furniture was sparse, with box like chairs and heavy chests, beds, and trestle tables with carved legs.  

(Elizabethan Four Poster Bed) (Modern Day application-Four poster bed, paneled walls, fabric upholstery)

 The Elizabethan Period was during great wealth, manors and country homes being built, and William Shakespeare plays were performed. Architect Inigo Jones introduced renaissance architecture to England, relying on his knowledge of Palladio’s Italian Architecture style. Architectural plans were in the shape of letters (C, E, and H), gateways, long drives, and formal gardens and parks were created.  

The buildings were grand, with great halls, grand staircases, long galleries with smaller rooms coming off them, and more windows than actual walls in hallways. Great halls were often 2 stories, containing oak paneling, adorned with armor, portraits, and trophies. The long galleries often had tall fireplaces, ornamental plaster ceilings, paneled or covered with tapestries, and had plenty of light.  

Smaller residential houses were also built outside of the walls of castles, sometimes only containing one room, and adding on as wealth was acquired. Oak was popular at first, but by the 17th century walnut became more evident. Large 4 poster beds were draped, and cupboards had a series of shelves enclosed with doors.  

King James I continued the Elizabethan style creating a Jacobean style, which focused on plaster ceilings with white painted paneling. This style had less heavy detailing, which were carved and slimmed down, containing spirals, and upholstery. The interiors were Elizabethan style, also including oriental rugs and embroidered silk as well carved garlands of fruit and foliage.  

 

The Middle Renaissance was known as the English Restoration from 1660-1750. This period started off with the Great Fire of 1666, burning a large portion of London, which resulted in a new standard for design, a Baroque urban design that was greatly influenced by the French. Sir Christopher Wren started zoning and construction regulations and developed new standards for housing including wall thickness, floor heights, specified materials (such as brick). Wren designed 52 churches, his masterpiece being the St. Paul Cathedral, he is the most renowned English architect of all time! 

Next was the William and Mary, which generally outlined Baroque architecture with French furniture. Walnut furniture became more evident with a new standard of comfort resulting in beautiful furniture with much upholstery. While the overall structure was straight with curved and ball feet, veneers were perfects, marquetry and lacquer work were evident. It had an oriental influence, using luxurious fabrics such as velvet and leather.  

(Holkham Hall in Norfolk by William Kent) (Modern Day application)

Queen Anne was during the 18th century and was considered the golden age of English cabinetwork. This was a prosperous time, that developed social living, making tea and coffee drinking and parlor games of chance a part of the normal routine. Interiors were generally like the last eras but had paper or silk walls. William Kent took Palladian concepts and created Baroque furniture styles. This period influenced the English trade with China, taking their influence from furniture, porcelain, and overall drinking tea. Additionally, mahogany from Cuba and Santo Domingo was used because of its ease to work with. Overall, silk, linen, crewel, and embroidery were widely used. Compared to other periods, this was a more feminine era with curved lines and a lighter feel. Furniture during this time still inspires artists today, having cabriole legs, looking like animal legs, and a distinctive back shape. The Queen Anne chair and Winsor chair being used in Dining rooms, while the wing chair in living areas.  
(Queen Anne Chair) (Modern Day Application- Robert Venturi)

Last was Chippendale, Adam, Hepplewhite, and Sheraton who were four furniture designers that revolutionized the furniture industry with their designs, publications, and business practices. This was considered Early Georgian to Early Chippendale era.  

Thomas Chippendale was the first non-royal man to have a furniture style. Chippendale was a prosperous man, having variety and depth in his style, he wrote several books and is still one of the most well-known names in furniture design. His style was a compilation of Rococo with orient and medieval, the signature Chippendale Chair being like that of the Queen Anne chair. Overall, Chippendale was a brilliant artist, having gilded furniture for salons, mahogany wood in halls, dining rooms, and libraries, and lacquering in bedrooms.  

 

 

One Step Further: 

An artist that has been inspired by the Queen Anne Chair and the era is Robert Venturi and his wife Denise Scott Brown. They developed a series of Queen Anne Chairs that came out in the 1980’s taking inspiration from the original while also injecting humor into the furniture industry.  

Both Venturi and Brown are architects as well are designers, with a postmodernism design that looks at historical styles in a new way. They created several different styles of chairs including Queen Anne and Chippendale. From the front, the historical significance is clear, however, from the side the chairs simply have a thin plywood profile.  

In the article it shared, “Venturi gained his interest in furniture from his mother Vanna – for whom the iconic house was designed. She worked as a decorator and collected reproductions of historical pieces. By analyzing and drawing different chair styles in his spare time, Venturi learned why decoration was placed in certain places and how styles developed from one another.” New York Times critic Joseph Giovannini in his review of their launch said, "The chairs might have an intentional bluntness, but they are also quite subtle." 

Nine chair styles were put into production by Knoll after the launch of their collection, having a range of finishes and colors, there are 183 variations.  

 

 

https://www.dezeen.com/2015/08/17/postmodern-design-queen-anne-chair-robert-venturi-denise-scott-brown-knoll/