The Country House (with Designs)Châteauneuf, Alexis de
History
The Country House (with Designs)
Châteauneuf, Alexis de
Architecture -- England -- History -- 19th century; Architecture, Domestic -- England; Country homes -- England
Though the ceilings of the two drawing-rooms should not be much
ornamented, yet they may be relieved by the introduction of gilding in
parts. For all these rooms I propose that the doors, &c. should be
white with gilt mouldings. In the library, the ribs or bands of the
vaulted ceiling should be gilt upon a white ground; and as regards the
bookcases or shelves for books, they ought to be of some light coloured
wood, highly polished, and not go higher than the corbels or consoles
from which the vaulting springs, in order that there may be sufficient
space for busts, vases, and other ornaments of that kind upon the
cornices; and this will avoid the inconvenience of having the upper
shelves quite out of reach, except with the help of high library
steps--always inconvenient. For the lunettes or arched spaces between
the corbels, I have not proposed any particular decoration, as they
might be filled up by reliefs and casts let into the wall.
The dining room with the arcs-doubleaux and compartments of its vaulted
ceiling afford scope for fresco painting of a superior style; and the
pencil of our friend Eastlake, who has already shown so much classical
talent in decorating the dining-room in London, might render this one
of the most striking and charming apartments of its kind in England. It
is true that fresco is so little practised in your country, and
consequently its process so imperfectly understood, that he would
probably have to encounter some difficulties at the outset; but I
flatter myself I could be of considerable assistance to him, as regards
the practical details, having already succeeded in introducing that
mode of painting in spite of most unfavourable circumstances. I would
advise that the pictures should be confined to the ceiling and the
lunettes, and that the walls should be merely stuccoed, as being upon
the whole more in accordance with the destination of the room itself,
and affording a quieter background to the company seated around the
dinner-table; at the same time that the frescoes in the upper part of
the room would thereby show to greater advantage. You will observe that
the fresco requires a bold broad style, and has an advantage over oil,
as it is very effective even when not seen by a strong or favourable
light. Should somewhat more of decoration be thought advisable, I would
suggest the adoption of glass-mosaic in narrow upright pannels at
intervals. Of this species of embellishment, which was much used by the
Romans, and after, much in vogue throughout Italy during the middle
ages, for pulpits, monuments, &c. I have lately introduced an
application in a room fitted up by myself, the effect of which is
allowed to be singularly striking and good.
The remaining drawing shows the large corridor on the upper floor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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