DOI Heft:
No. 37 (April, 1896)
DOI Artikel:The revival of English domestic architecture, [3], The work of Mr. Ernest George
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17296#0164
The Revival of English Domestic Architecture
surface of old Spanish leather. In the real thing most of the effect of a singularly beautiful vestibule,
there is just such a glow of broken colour, with a which also lingered in the memory as an elabo-
suggestion of pattern; in the black-and-white rately decorated interior.
sketch the whole becomes " noisy " and insis- That such an impression had so distorted facts is
tent. Again, in views of furnished rooms, the surely a high compliment to the genius of an
miscellaneous objects often confuse the effect for architect who provides so wisely and so well the
which the architect can alone be held responsible, setting for the objects which must needs occupy
In The Studio, Vol. I. p. 217, there is an in- the room, that the whole scheme is fulfilled only
terior by Mr. Ernest George, The Hall, Glencot, when the apartment is furnished. Too often the
which comes back to memory as a gorgeous architect has made the room so complete in itself
vestibule; superb, it is true, but in an ornate and that whatever may be placed in it detracts from
sumptuous fashion. On studying it again, the the effect.
engraving reveals not a single inch of carving or To study the designs by Mr. George as they de-
other decoration beyond the wall-paper (or what- serve to be studied would imply personal knowledge
ever be the material) of the frieze. All the orna- of the homes he has made beautiful, without and
mentation is found in the objects of the room, and within. This is obviously not practicable. But even
a bowl of white flowers is possibly responsible for without knowledge of the actual fabrics one may be
sure that, should they by
chance fall into the hands
of tasteless owners, the
quiet harmony of their
structural parts would
maintain a certain stateli-
ness, and defy even the
litter which many people
deem necessary in draw-
ing-rooms and boudoirs.
For the clamour of gossip
cannot destroy the wise
utterances of great men,
nor the fashion of the
moment obliterate the
abiding excellence of really
notable work in any art.
Fortunately, the fact
that an owner has chosen
a great architect is usually
evidence that the furniture
to be added will not be
discordant. As many of
these illustrations here
witness, the good taste of
the house is usually re-
flected in its fittings, until
a subject results that is a
picture, as, for instance, in
one before quoted, The
Hall, Glencot.
But one must not dis-
cuss Mr. George's work as
a whole without some
attention to its individual
examples. The imposing
FROM THE ORIGINAL DRAWING BY ERNEST GEORGE grOUp of gabled hoUSeS,
;5°
surface of old Spanish leather. In the real thing most of the effect of a singularly beautiful vestibule,
there is just such a glow of broken colour, with a which also lingered in the memory as an elabo-
suggestion of pattern; in the black-and-white rately decorated interior.
sketch the whole becomes " noisy " and insis- That such an impression had so distorted facts is
tent. Again, in views of furnished rooms, the surely a high compliment to the genius of an
miscellaneous objects often confuse the effect for architect who provides so wisely and so well the
which the architect can alone be held responsible, setting for the objects which must needs occupy
In The Studio, Vol. I. p. 217, there is an in- the room, that the whole scheme is fulfilled only
terior by Mr. Ernest George, The Hall, Glencot, when the apartment is furnished. Too often the
which comes back to memory as a gorgeous architect has made the room so complete in itself
vestibule; superb, it is true, but in an ornate and that whatever may be placed in it detracts from
sumptuous fashion. On studying it again, the the effect.
engraving reveals not a single inch of carving or To study the designs by Mr. George as they de-
other decoration beyond the wall-paper (or what- serve to be studied would imply personal knowledge
ever be the material) of the frieze. All the orna- of the homes he has made beautiful, without and
mentation is found in the objects of the room, and within. This is obviously not practicable. But even
a bowl of white flowers is possibly responsible for without knowledge of the actual fabrics one may be
sure that, should they by
chance fall into the hands
of tasteless owners, the
quiet harmony of their
structural parts would
maintain a certain stateli-
ness, and defy even the
litter which many people
deem necessary in draw-
ing-rooms and boudoirs.
For the clamour of gossip
cannot destroy the wise
utterances of great men,
nor the fashion of the
moment obliterate the
abiding excellence of really
notable work in any art.
Fortunately, the fact
that an owner has chosen
a great architect is usually
evidence that the furniture
to be added will not be
discordant. As many of
these illustrations here
witness, the good taste of
the house is usually re-
flected in its fittings, until
a subject results that is a
picture, as, for instance, in
one before quoted, The
Hall, Glencot.
But one must not dis-
cuss Mr. George's work as
a whole without some
attention to its individual
examples. The imposing
FROM THE ORIGINAL DRAWING BY ERNEST GEORGE grOUp of gabled hoUSeS,
;5°