Wall Panelling Corporation

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The walls here were once a brilliant turquoise blue, the ornament round the window is still in its original glory of gold and turquoise, the prints, an assort­ment of mezzotints of varying sizes, are arranged with little swags and streamers of flowers and fruits between, giving an illusion of hanging from an imaginary series of lines. At the top of the low wainscot, urns are arranged at intervals.

 

There is little doubt that the finely proportioned rooms and elegant decorations which are most keenly associated with the second half of the eighteenth century are those, stamped with the indelible `Adam' touch. Theirs was the last fine attempt in the classic style as inspired by visits to Dalmatia. Ornament was fine and delicate, adapting such motifs as the urn, bell-.like swag, and marigold, and introducing medallions in both plasterwork and frieze paintings.

 

As the carvings of Grinling Gibbons had helped Sir Christopher Wren to establish a fine style of interior decoration-so did Angelica Kauffman contribute to the effect of the Georgian interiors. Angelica Kauffman, a Swiss artist best known for her silhouette paintings and classic medallions, lived in England for many years and applied herself to the nude and draped figure decorations so fashionable towards the end of the century. It was a period when women were accepted for their intellectual and artistic abilities, and there was no particular prejudice against women practising the arts, as there was during the Victorian era.

 

Corner of Paint Decorated Room

STON EASTON, SOMERSET

c. 1795