James Wyatt

James Wyatt PRA (born August 3, 1746 in Burton Constable , † September 4, 1813 in Marlborough ) was an English architect . In the last third of the 18th century he was one of the most important architects in England. At the beginning of his career he designed in the style of neo-Palladian classicism . Later he turned increasingly to the neo-Gothic . In addition, his work shows influences from the Gothic Revival . Critics dubbed him Wyatt the Destroyer , pointing to his numerous ruthless restorations and additions to Gothic cathedrals , e.g. B. Salisbury , Durham and Hereford .

Life

James Wyatt was the son of a timber merchant and building contractor. 1762–1768 he spent six years in Italy, v. a. in Venice. During this time he became familiar with neo-Palladian architecture.

Upon his return to London , he became famous for building the Pantheon on Regent Street . The design was based on the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople and translated it into a classical language of form. His fame brought him success, he was showered with assignments. For the great Handel memorial service in 1784, he designed and built a royal box in the Pantheon - still in the style of neo-Palladian classicism. On February 15, 1785 he was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts , of which he was president from 1805 to 1806. In 1796 he became the chief architect of the building authority, succeeding William Chambers .

Major works

Garden front and domed hall at Heaton Hall , Lancashire , 1772
Vestibule at Heveningham Hall , Suffolk , 1778–84
Lee Priory , 1782, (destroyed, a room preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum , London)
Mausoleum at Cobham Hall , Kent , 1783
Drawing room at Castle Coole Fermanagh , Ireland , 1790–97
Goodwood House , 1790-1800
Renovation of Plas Newydd , Anglesey , before 1800
Fonthill Abbey , Wiltshire , 1795-1807 (destroyed)
Dodington Park , Gloucestershire , 1796-1815
Ashridge Park , Hertfordshire , 1806-1813
Entrance room at Willey Hall , Shropshire , 1812

Individual evidence

^ Royal Academy of Arts: Database Entry - James Wyatt , accessed April 10, 2013.

Web links

Commons : James Wyatt - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Biography of James Wyatt (English)

personal data
SURNAME	Wyatt, James
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	English architect
DATE OF BIRTH	August 3, 1746
PLACE OF BIRTH	Burton Constable
DATE OF DEATH	September 4, 1813
Place of death	Marlborough

[1] Royal Academy of Arts: Database Entry - James Wyatt , accessed April 10, 2013.