 |
William Kent's design for the Great Dining Hall
at Houghton Hall, Isaac Ware, draughtsman, 1743.
Plate 38 from the book
'The Designs of Inigo Jones and others.'
Image: Victoria & Albert Museum. |
"William Kent: Designing Georgian Britain" is a landmark, new exhibition opening in the Gallery of the Bard Graduate Center, NYC, on September 20, 2013. A collaboration with the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, where it will be on view next year, this is the first major exhibition on the man who was probably the most influential designer in Britain in the eighteenth-century.
 |
William Aikman's portrait of William Kent,
circa 1723 to 25. National Portrait Gallery, London.
Image via BGC. |
Almost 200 examples of William Kent's work will be on display ranging from his drawings for architecture, gardens, & sculpture to furniture, silver, and paintings, plus his book illustrations. William Kent, like Robert Adam a generation later, is identified with an entire stylistic period, not just his own work. Kent developed a style that catered to the rich patrons and collectors, all who had been on the Grand Tour and appreciated his interpretive recreations of Roman palazzi.
 |
The Gallery at Chiswick Villa
in a 1828 watercolor by William Henry Hunt.
Devonshire Collection, Chatsworth.
Image via BGC. |
The style known as 'Kentian' features palatial Italianate interiors with walls covered in silk damask or velvet, and richly painted ceilings to showcase gilded architectural tables & mirrors, and Old Master paintings. Appreciated as a house guest of his patrons, he was affectionately known as 'Kentino.'
 |
A console table, one of a pair, designed by Kent
and carved by John Boson, 1732.
Intended for the Sculpture Gallery at Chiswick,
they were recorded in the 1770 inventory as
being in Lady Burlington's bedroom.
With the other furniture at Chiswick, they passed by
descent to the Dukes of Devonshire, and were moved
to Devonshire House and then to
Chatsworth where the mate remains.
Image: Victoria & Albert Museum. |
The exhibition is divided into sections with parts focusing on country houses such as Houghton Hall, London houses such as Devonshire House (see previous post
here), and royal work such as the Cupola Room at
Kensington Palace. Another section is devoted entirely to Holkham Hall, considered to be the finest example of the Palladian revival style in Britain. The final section focuses on Kent's contributions to the history of landscape and garden design.
 |
A Chinoiserie Garden Temple
designed and drawn by William Kent,
made circa 1730 to 1735.
Image: Victoria & Albert Museum. |
Co-curated by Susan Weber of BGC and Julius Bryant of V&A, the exhibit will continue at the Bard until February 9, 2014, before going on to London, March 22 to July 13, 2014. Susan Weber's book
WILLIAM KENT: DESIGNING GEORGIAN BRITAIN may be ordered at substantial savings
here. For more information on all the programs and exhibitions on Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Cultures, see the BGC
website.
 |
A detail of a drawing by William Kent for a bracket
to display a bust, made circa 1730 to 1735.
Image: Victoria & Albert Museum. |
