Thomas Gray’s understanding and reviving of historical architecture

Lindfield, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8393-9344 2024. Thomas Gray’s understanding and reviving of historical architecture. Abbott, Ruth and Levinson, Ephraim, eds. Thomas Gray Among the Disciplines, Abingdon: Routledge,

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Abstract

For large parts of the eighteenth century, Gothic architecture was viewed as an unpopular style and it suffered from being considered of bad taste. Gothic (and pre-Gothic) architecture nevertheless piqued the attention of antiquaries, and Gray was one such person. His engagement with medieval architecture resulted in extensive writings on the subject in his Commonplace Book, including ‘Gothica) Architectura’, otherwise now commonly referred to as Architectura Gothica (On Norman Architecture); this and his other writing on the subject reveal his detailed visual analysis of ancient British buildings. Connected with Horace Walpole, Gray drew and wrote about Walpole’s pioneering neo-Gothic villa, Strawberry Hill, including its sources. Like Walpole, who advised friends and architects seeking to create new Gothic buildings, Gray also helped shape Gothic homes, most notably those belonging to Thomas Wharton. Wharton, a doctor and fellow of the College of Physicians notable for his interest in Gothic architecture, corresponded with Gray, and Gray, in turn, provided detailed advice for shaping and decorating Wharton’s neo-Gothic country house, Old Park in Byers Green, County Durham. This essay examines Gray’s understanding of medieval architecture and his application of this knowledge, against mainstream Georgian Gothic design, to the shaping of Gothic homes. Presenting an array of manuscript material, some of which is previously unpublished, it locates Gray within his Georgian context and the creation of new Gothic homes.

Item Type:	Book Section
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Architecture
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR N Fine Arts > NA Architecture N Fine Arts > NK Decorative arts Applied arts Decoration and ornament N Fine Arts > NX Arts in general
Publisher:	Routledge
ISBN:	9781032231570
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	17 August 2024
Date of Acceptance:	17 August 2024
Last Modified:	05 Sep 2024 07:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/171454

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