The vast estate of Badminton, home to the Dukes of Beaufort has always been famous for hunting. The fourth Duke had the great and fashionable architect of the period, William Kent transform the main house into the one that we see today.
The Main House at Badminton
William KentThe watercolor above depicts the Lodge, with it's wonderful heavily rusticated base, soaring center arched windows, and the unusual pyramid capped side pavilions. The stone carvings are of exceptional quality. Note the finely carved family crests above the arched windows.
This was undoubtedly one of the most difficult and time consuming paintings that I have finished to date due to the details in depicting the rusticated base and the stone work. I was also unable to find any surviving drawings of the lodge so much time was spent on getting the measurements correct However I am pleased with results and relieved to have it finally completed. It has been on my subject list for quite some time but I was a little intimidated by it's complexity.
I hope you are as charmed by this distinctive and notable building as much as I have been.
13 comments:
Your work is magnificent! If I might offer a suggestion, though, I would have liked to see a variation on tradition and a less than black-out appearance for the windows of the rooms. Don't you think there was an intention by the architect to see light through the building? A "lantern", so to speak. Not a criticism, but a suggestion. __ JJT, Olive Branch, Mississippi
JT
It is a great suggestion and I very much appreciate it. I see the building as a "lantern" too. It is difficult to convey that sense of translucency in the windows when it is a two dimensional image. It would be interesting to experiment with pale blues instead of blacks. The trick is to make the window muntins visible too. I will have to play with that idea. Are you a watercolorist?
Sadly, no. But perhaps that is why I am so appreciative of great talent.
Beautiful drawings, and what an inspiration Worcester house is - thank you for the education! One of my all time favorite trips was a month that I spent touring the English countryside, visiting many amazing stately homes and staying in wonderful country home hotels around England. Magnificent architecture is such an art form, and your renderings bring the art form to life in the 21st century.
Stunning- and I cant believe you had no measured drawing of the Pavilion...you got it perfectly and beautifully!
Charmed to bits and grateful for you brilliant eye. Thanks for sharing your passion and talent with me.
Warmest regards,
Simone
First saw Worcester Lodge when 10 and then again at 50. It stayed in my mind all that time as one of the most elegant buidings I had seen. So thanks for showing it us again and for drawing it for us.
Wot a talent you have!
Robert Webber
Hegarty Webber Garden Design, UK
Seasons Greetings
See your work on my blog in
Making A Mark Awards 2009: Nominations for the best picture (place)
Hi Michael,
I've been enjoying your posts and they remind me of when you lived in San Francisco. Best wishes for the New Year.
Kendra Boutell
A stunning depiction of this marvellous building. To be entertained in the grand salon and watch the hunting must have been sublime.
Wow that’s a very impressive work. I like it. It looks very historical. I love it.
Wow that’s a very impressive work. I like it. It looks very historical. I love it.
The pictures posted is so beautiful so as the miniature home. It’s very beautiful.
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