Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837; George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830
'Whilst the improvements were going on, in the year 1802, several
pieces of very beautiful Chinese paper were presented to the Prince,
who, for a time, was undecided in what way to make use of them. As the
Eating room and the Library, which were between the Saloon and the new
Northern wing, were no longer required for their original purposes, Mr.
Robinson, on being consulted, advised the Prince to have the partition
removed, and the interior formed into a Chinese gallery. This was
immediately agreed to; the walls were hung with the paper described,
and the other parts of the Gallery were painted and decorated in a
corresponding style. About the same time, the passage room between what
was, then, called the Small Drawing Room, and the New Conservatory,
or Music room, at the south end of the Pavilion, was constructed in a
singular manner. A space was enclosed within it, measuring twelve feet
by eight, the sides and upper part of which were entirely formed of
stained glass, of an oriental character, and exhibiting the peculiar
insects, fruits, flowers, etc., of China. It was illuminated from
without; and through it, as through an immense Chinese lantern, the
communication was carried on; its effect is stated to have been
extremely beautiful. Such, then, were the circumstances under which the
Eastern style of decoration was first adopted at the Pavilion; and,
soon afterwards, between the years 1803 and 1805, the same principle
was extended to its architecture; the new Stables, which were then
erected by Mr. William Porden, being considered as designed in the
Hindû style.
'Although the Pavilion itself had been much enlarged, and had,
recently, undergone extensive alterations, the Prince had still further
changes in contemplation; and, in 1805, he issued his commands to
Mr. H. Repton (who was much celebrated for his judicious practice in
landscape gardening, and had already been employed in improving the
grounds at Brighton), to deliver his opinion "concerning what style
of architecture would be most suitable for the Pavilion." The result
was made known to the Prince early in the ensuing year; and, in the
spring of 1808, was communicated to the public in a folio work of
much interest, which includes a series of coloured plates of proposed
improvements, both in the House and Grounds. Though Mr. Repton's
designs in respect to the Pavilion were never carried into effect,
the arguments which he employed for giving it an Eastern character,
had, doubtless, considerable influence over its present form; a short
extract from his work will, therefore, be admissible.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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