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The above photos were taken by two
members. The top row are at Marble Hill House and the bottom row at
Chiswick House
Marble
House - see above
Marble House is a beautiful villa beside
by the Thames and built in 1724-29 for Henrietta Howard, mistress of
George II. The perfect proportions of the villa were inspired by the work
of Palladio and today contain an important collection of paintings,
including works by Reynolds and Gainsborough, and furniture, some of which
was commissioned for the villa when it was built. We started with coffee and biscuits and after the visit members
bought lunch in the Marble Hill House café. |
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Chiswick
House, West London - above
In the afternoon we continued to Chiswick House, built for Lord Burlington and inspired
by the architecture and gardens of ancient Rome was one of the first and
finest English Palladian villas. The pure exteriors contrast with
sumptuous interiors by William Kent with the aim of creating a fit setting
to show off Lord Burlington’s fine collection of art and his library. The
important 18th century gardens have at every turning something
to surprise and delight the visitor from the magnificent cedar trees to
the beautiful Italianate gardens with their cascade, statues, temples,
urns and obelisks.
This visit fitted in
with our previous lecture in November about Palladio, Indigo Jones
and the British Palladians.
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