w - ALFRED WATERHOUSE FOR THE LIBRARY OF BLACKMOOR HOUSE, HAMPSHIRE, HOME OF ROUNDELL PALMER, LATER LORD SELBORNE

1872-73

of semi-octagonal free standing form with a panelled reverse, the upper section with a rear gallery above a central arched open shelf flanked by pigeon holes and small drawers, the recessed top with an inset tooled leather writing surface flanked by two frieze drawers, the turned legs joined by an undertier, on brass casters

EXHIBITED

Architect - Designers, Pugin to Mackintosh, exhibition catalogue, May 1981, The Fine Art Society Ltd. with Haslam & Whiteway Ltd., pp. 24-25.

LITERATURE AND REFERENCES

Stuart Allen Smith, 'Alfred Waterhouse, Civic Grandeur', in: Jane Fawcett (ed.), Seven Victorian Architects, Hampshire, 1974, pp. 92ff for an extensive essay on Waterhouse and his life and work.

Colin Cunningham and Prudence Waterhouse, Alfred Waterhouse 1930 - 1905, Biography of a Practice, Oxford, 1992, pp. 23, 146, 224.

CATALOGUE NOTE

Although a dedicated reader of Pugin's and Ruskin's writings, and producing many study sketches of their work, Waterhouse never hesitated to embellish his Gothic designs with features from other historic styles and hence developed a distinct architectural language. He studied the historic styles during his 'Grand Tour' through Europe (1853-54) and was excited about the variety of possibilities. He remarked very poignantly: "Returned home much disgusted with English architecture. We want size, light, and shade, and colour in our buildings - and in ourselves more good humour and good manners - cost of journey £11.6.1½."

Patrons played a great role in those days and the one most important for Waterhouse was Roundell Palmer, later Lord Selborne, who provided him with notable private commissions. Usually his task was to modernise or reconstruct an old, unfashionable building and bring it up to contemporary standards. Waterhouse was commissioned to turn Blackmoor Farm House in Hampshire into a mansion by supplying designs for functional buildings and furniture, which he carried out between 1866-73.

Waterhouse had tested several suppliers in the past to carry out his designs, but he frequently returned to Henry Capel for furniture supplies, whom he valued for the good quality he provided. He employed him again in the Blackmoor project, knowing that he could rely on Capels’ high standards. In fact quality was one of Waterhouse’s main priorities: The Blackmoor accounts record that he made no less than thirty-one site visits.