Regency style

Style of decorative arts and architecture produced in England during the rule of George, Prince of Wales, as Prince Regent from 1811 until his accession as George IV in 1820, although it is also generally applied to the period from the 1790s until the death of George IV in 1830. Predominantly a style of interior decoration, it began as an enrichment of the late GEORGIAN STYLE, as typified by the work of HENRY HOLLAND for the Prince Regent at Carlton House (after 1783; destr. 1827-8) and the Royal Pavilion (1787), Brighton; for the brewer Samuel Whitbread (1758-1815) at Southill (1796-1800), Beds; and for Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford, at Woburn Abbey (1787-1802; partially destr. 1954), Beds. Furniture for such interiors was designed by Holland and made in England by such ?migr? craftsmen as Fran?ois Herv? ( fl 1780-90) or in France by such craftsmen as Georges Jacob (ii). Similar styles were published in later editions of both Hepplewhite's Cabinetmaker and Upholsterer's Guide (1788, rev. 2/1789, 3/1794) and Sheraton's Cabinetmaker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book (1791-3, rev. 2/1794, 3/1802). Around the turn of the 18th century, however, the sabre leg replaced the straight or cabriole leg and such lighter toned, more figured woods as satinwood, rosewood and zebra-wood superseded mahogany. Versions of the Greek klismos-chair and other Greco-Roman forms became popular, as illustrated in C. H. Tatham's Etchings of Ancient Ornamental Architecture (1799).

See the Abbreviations for further details.

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The colorful neoclassic style, often combined with oriental motifs, prevalent in England between 1811 and 1830, during the Regency and reign of George IV. Later, very occasionally emulated in America as Regency Revival; often combined with oriental motifs.

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The Regency style of architecture refers primarily to buildings built in Britain during the period in the early 19th century when George IV was Prince Regent, and also to later buildings following the same style. The style corresponds to the Biedermeier style in the German-speaking lands, Federal style in the United States and to the French Empire style. ^[1]

The style follows closely on from the neo-classical Georgian Style of architecture, adding an elegance and lightness of touch. Note that the Georgian style takes its name from the four Kings George of the period circa 1720–1840, including King George IV. Many buildings of the Regency style have a white painted stucco facade and an entryway to the main front door (usually coloured black) which is framed by two columns. Regency residences typically are built as terraces or crescents. Elegant wrought iron balconies and bow windows came into fashion as part of this style.

An instigator of this style was John Nash who designed the Regency terraces of Regent's Park and Regent Street in London. Excellent examples of Regency properties dominate Brighton and Hove in East Sussex; in particular in its Kemp Town and Brunswick (Hove) estates. In London itself there are many streets in the style in the areas around Victoria, Pimlico, Mayfair and other central districts. The town of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire also provides many fine examples of Regency architecture and makes the claim to be "the most complete regency town in England". The Cheltenham Synagogue is judged by Nikolaus Pevsner to be one of the architecturally "best" non-Anglican ecclesiastical buildings in Britain. ^[2] Royal Leamington Spa in Warwickshire also provides some fine examples of the Regency style, including parts of The Parade, Clarendon Square and Landsdowne Circus.

The term Regency style is also applied to interior design of the period, typified by elegant furniture and vertically striped wallpaper, and to styles of clothing; for males, as typified by the dandy Beau Brummell, for women the Empire silhouette.

Regent's Park, London

Rochester Terrace, Albert Park, Victoria. One of Australia's finest examples of the Regency style. Part of St Vincent Gardens, a colonial example in the mould of English squares.

Cumberland Terrace, London

Regency headquarters of Cheltenham Borough Council

See also

• Régence style
• Empire (style)

External links

• Regency Society, a Brighton & Hove group promoting preservation of Regency architecture
• Regency style in furniture
• "Regency Classicism Style Guide". British Galleries. Victoria and Albert Museum. http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/british_galleries/bg_styles/Style05b/index.html. Retrieved on 2007-07-17. 

References

1. ^ The Encyclopedia Americana, Grolier, 1981, v. 9, p. 314
2. ^ The Buildings of England, Nikolaus Pevsner, Penguin Books, 1951, p. 37

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