DOI Heft:
No. 35 (February, 1896)
DOI Artikel:The revival of English domestic architecture, [1] The work of Mr. Norman Shaw
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17296#0041
The Revival of English Domestic Architecture
net-making done into
architecture." Another
writer in The Globe was
inclined to think that,
" the bondage of strict
Gothicism was becoming
intolerable, the unfailing
accuracy of its movements
seemed oppressive on oc-
casions not the most
serious." These few ex-
tracts will suffice to show
that the tyranny of the
ultra-orthodox apostles of
Gothic had fretted many
artists to the point of
revolt. The rebellion came
and the unexpected hap-
pened ; men who had
shown their complete
mastery of Gothic, who
had ransacked Europe for
precedents of every variety
and period, turned to the
old manor-houses of Eng-
land, the farms of Surrey
and Kent, the town houses
of William and Mary,
Queen Anne, and the
Georges, and saw that
English homes of the past
were the truest models
for English homes of the
swan house, chelsea r. norman shaw, k.a., akchitect present. Forsaking cathe-
drals and fortresses, abbeys
Gothic mysticism. Thus the art and literature of and castles, they found awaiting them, in these
the younger men were moving parallel with the humbler structures, beautiful features at once comely
taste of the younger groups of architects. and convenient; and the public with taste, especially
Professor Kerr in commenting upon Mr. Steven- the artists, were won over to the new movement,
son's paper did not expect the " Queen Anne " which began with a nickname, and bids fair to end
fashion to last very long—which shows that pro- as a distinct national style, elastic and comprehen-
phecy, always unsafe, is never more so than in sive, but always equal to its task whether a palace
forecasting popular taste. or a cottage is to be planned.
Mr. Huskinson Guillaume, writing about this The pedigree of the new style can be traced
time, says : " Feeling and sentiment have been so without much trouble. Newhah in Elland, Clay-
worked to extreme limits by the ultra-medisevalists house near Halifax (sketched by J. P. Seddon and
that it would not be surprising if science claims the published in 1869), Sir Paul Pindar's house (now
next prerogative for popular acceptance ;" by this he in South Kensington Museum), and many a fine
meant, doubtless, what many at that time dreaded old building at Chiswick and elsewhere, are stand-
yet expected, that the engineer with iron for his ing to prove that almost every detail Mr. Norman
chief material would throw over all the traditions Shaw employed had done good service in these
of the past and create a style de novo. Mr. H. H. realms before. Instead of seeking for foreign
Statham, another capable critic well supplied with idioms, or unearthing archaic phrases from early
information, called the Queen Anne style, " cabi- poets, he reverted to the pure vernacular of the
28
net-making done into
architecture." Another
writer in The Globe was
inclined to think that,
" the bondage of strict
Gothicism was becoming
intolerable, the unfailing
accuracy of its movements
seemed oppressive on oc-
casions not the most
serious." These few ex-
tracts will suffice to show
that the tyranny of the
ultra-orthodox apostles of
Gothic had fretted many
artists to the point of
revolt. The rebellion came
and the unexpected hap-
pened ; men who had
shown their complete
mastery of Gothic, who
had ransacked Europe for
precedents of every variety
and period, turned to the
old manor-houses of Eng-
land, the farms of Surrey
and Kent, the town houses
of William and Mary,
Queen Anne, and the
Georges, and saw that
English homes of the past
were the truest models
for English homes of the
swan house, chelsea r. norman shaw, k.a., akchitect present. Forsaking cathe-
drals and fortresses, abbeys
Gothic mysticism. Thus the art and literature of and castles, they found awaiting them, in these
the younger men were moving parallel with the humbler structures, beautiful features at once comely
taste of the younger groups of architects. and convenient; and the public with taste, especially
Professor Kerr in commenting upon Mr. Steven- the artists, were won over to the new movement,
son's paper did not expect the " Queen Anne " which began with a nickname, and bids fair to end
fashion to last very long—which shows that pro- as a distinct national style, elastic and comprehen-
phecy, always unsafe, is never more so than in sive, but always equal to its task whether a palace
forecasting popular taste. or a cottage is to be planned.
Mr. Huskinson Guillaume, writing about this The pedigree of the new style can be traced
time, says : " Feeling and sentiment have been so without much trouble. Newhah in Elland, Clay-
worked to extreme limits by the ultra-medisevalists house near Halifax (sketched by J. P. Seddon and
that it would not be surprising if science claims the published in 1869), Sir Paul Pindar's house (now
next prerogative for popular acceptance ;" by this he in South Kensington Museum), and many a fine
meant, doubtless, what many at that time dreaded old building at Chiswick and elsewhere, are stand-
yet expected, that the engineer with iron for his ing to prove that almost every detail Mr. Norman
chief material would throw over all the traditions Shaw employed had done good service in these
of the past and create a style de novo. Mr. H. H. realms before. Instead of seeking for foreign
Statham, another capable critic well supplied with idioms, or unearthing archaic phrases from early
information, called the Queen Anne style, " cabi- poets, he reverted to the pure vernacular of the
28