George Wardlaw Burnet

“ Brettingham does not appear to have been influenced by the investigations made by these architects into the architecture of Greece. He always confined himself to the heavy Palladian style in which he had been educated, and in which, while exhibiting no great novelty of conception, it must be admitted he displayed knowledge and skill equal to those of any architect of his time. ”

“ GWILT, GEORGE, the younger (1775–1856) , architect, born in Southwark 8 May 1775, was elder son of George Gwilt the elder [q. v.] He was articled to his father, and succeeded him in business as an architect. He was from the first very fully employed, one of his earliest important commissions being the large warehouses erected about 1801 for the West India Dock Company, but he is not known as the author of any original works of artistic character. His tastes led him rather towards the study than the active practice of architecture, and he early devoted himself to archæological pursuits. ”

“ BRUCE, Sir WILLIAM (d. 1710) , of Kinross, architect in Scotland to Charles II, was the second son of Robert Bruce of Blairhall, by his wife, Catherine, daughter of Sir John Preston of Valleyfield, and was born in the early part of the seventeenth century. Though too young to have played a part in the troublous reign of Charles I, no one in Scotland probably contributed more in a private capacity to bring about the restoration of the royal family, to whom he proved a firm and constant friend. ”

“ In 1860 Sir Charles Barry died suddenly, and upon his son Edward devolved the duty of completing his father's works. Foremost of these was the new palace at Westminster, which was at length entrusted to him by the government. Barry now succeeded not only to his father's business, but also to his reputation. On 29 March 1862 he married Lucy, daughter of Thomas Kettlewell, and two of the three children of the marriage still survive. The remaining years of his life record a long series of works designed by him, many of them of national magnitude and importance. ”

“ BRETTINGHAM, ROBERT FURZE (1750–1806?) , architect, nephew of Matthew Brettingham the elder [q. v.] , practised in London with great success, and erected many mansion houses throughout the country. Like his uncle, and in common with all students of architecture of his time, he spent a part of his early life in Italy, from which he returned in 1781. Architecture as then understood consisted in correctly imitating so-called classical models, and the skill of the architect was chiefly exercised in adapting the requirements of his patron to the hard and fast rules of his art. ”

“ It is impossible to say that they exhibit any amount of originality or artistic genius; but these were probably little regarded in his time, when the architect's merit consisted mainly in suiting the requirements of modern life to the supposed rules of ancient construction. ”

“ Fergusson's power of laborious research, and of systematising the results of his own accurate observation and the labours of others, enabled him to invest the historical study of architecture, particularly Indian architecture, with a new interest. ”

“ To imagination, the rarest gift of the portrait-painter, by virtue of which he renders on his canvas not the bodily presence merely, but even the character of his subject, Dahl can certainly lay no claim. ”

“ R. W. Edis, F.S.A., in his design for the houses of parliament in Berlin. But his removal to London proved a mistake from a professional point of view. His chief works there were the premises of the Fine Art Society in Bond Street and a studio for Princess Louise at Kensington Palace. But he has left no building there really worthy of his capabilities. As an architect he worked chiefly in the Gothic style; his works are characterised by taste in design and the accuracy of his knowledge of detail. ”

“ The work is a faithful record of antiquities which few can visit for themselves. Their 'Analysis of Gothic Architecture' (London, 1847) , which the authors say aims at being a practical rather than an historical work on English church architecture, consists of a collection of upwards of 700 examples of doors, windows, and other details of existing ecclesiastical architecture industriously compiled from actual measurements taken from little known parish churches throughout the country, with illustrative remarks on the various classes of items. ”

“ His last visit to India was in 1845, but already, chiefly between 1835 and 1842, he had made with remarkable energy the lengthened tours in that country which are shown in the map in his ‘Picturesque Illustrations of Ancient Architecture in Hindustan,’ and in the course of which he prepared the laborious and accurate measurements and drawings of Indian buildings which formed the material of his best-known works. In 1840 he was elected a member of the Royal Asiatic Society, to which, towards the close of 1843, he read a paper on ‘The Rock-cut Temples of India,’ published in its ‘Journal,’ vol. ”

“ Bruce died at a very great age in 1710, and was succeeded by his son, who, according to Douglas, was 'also a man of parts, and, as he had got a liberal education, was looked upon as one of the finest gentlemen in the kingdom when he returned from his travels.' Neither his parts nor his education, however, prompted him to distinguish himself, and they are both useful now only as indices of the qualities of the 'king's master of works,' his father. ”

“ FERREY, BENJAMIN (1810–1880) , architect, was born at Christchurch, Hampshire, on 1 April 1810. He was the youngest son of a gentleman of Huguenot extraction, whose family settled in England on the revocation of the edict of Nantes. He early evinced a taste for drawing and a love of sketching old buildings, and at the age of thirteen made very correct drawings of the interior of the fine old priory church of his native place. ”

“ He was distinguished for integrity as a public official, as well as unvarying kindness and courtesy. He was a fellow of the Institute of British Architects, and of the Society of Antiquaries, in which latter capacity much credit is due to him for the care he took in preserving the interesting remains of Roman building found in excavating the site of the Coal Exchange. He died on 7 Nov. 1863 in London. He married in 1826 Miss Basan, a lady of Italian origin, who survived him. He left no children. ”

“ An appendix of 'Evidences' upon the subject, collected by Joseph Gwilt, was previously printed in 1828. His second son, John Sebastian Gwilt (1811-1890) , was educated at Westminster School, and became an architect. He assisted his father in the preparation of the 'Encyclopædia of Architecture,' for which he made all the drawings; he wrote in conjunction with his father 'A Project for a New National Gallery in Trafalgar Square,' printed in 1838, but never published. ”

“ He remained through life an active contributor to the ‘Proceedings’ of this society, of which at his death he was one of the vice-presidents. The paper in question led to the presentation of a memorial from the council of the society to the court of directors of the East India Company, in consequence of which, much to Fergusson's satisfaction, instructions were sent for the measurement and drawing of the antiquities in the different presidencies of the country. ”

“ It gives a faithful and interesting account of the lives of the Pugins, father and son, and presents a valuable history of the ‘Gothic revival in English architecture.’ Ferrey was particularly severe in his denunciation of the increasingly prevalent union of the work of the contractor with the profession of architect. In the ‘Builder’ is published an interesting letter from him, deprecating in pithy terms the evils of the system. His favourite relaxation was music. ”

“ As a youth he volunteered for service in the Peninsula, and experienced many romantic adventures, which he was fond of relating in after-life to his friends. As an architect he enjoyed a considerable practice, especially in the construction of theatres, of which he certainly designed more than any other architect of his day. ”

“ The partnership subsisted for about six years, after which Burn ceased practice as an Edinburgh architect. In London his success continued unbroken. His strength undoubtedly lay in domestic architecture, particularly in the internal arrangement of houses, and mansions of his design are to be found in almost every county in the United Kingdom. ”

“ He used to regret sometimes that he had not chosen the bar as a profession, and more than once declared that it ‘seemed sufficient for anything he would have liked to come in his way for it to end in failure.’ For some time before his death he would seem to have had a presentiment of it. ”

“ While at the grammar school of Wimborne in Dorsetshire, where he received his early education, he used to spend hours drawing in the ancient minster, and he eventually became, indeed, one of the best architectural draughtsmen of his day. ”

“ About 1822 he was appointed architect to the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, and from 1830 to 1837 erected several new buildings there, including the north and south lodges and entrances, additional stables,coach-houses, dormitory, &c. From 1826 to the dissolution of the commission he was architect to the commissioners for building new churches, from which he subsequently enjoyed a pension. ”

“ D'AGAR, JACQUES (1640–1716) , painter, was born in 1640 in Paris, where he learned his art, but spent the greater part of his life in Copenhagen, where he was appointed court painter during the reigns of Christian V and Ferdinand IV. About 1700 he obtained permission to visit London, where he remained for some years, and obtained considerable employment from the noblemen and gentry of Queen Anne. He returned to Denmark, and died in Copenhagen in 1716. ”

“ It has done more than any other work to simplify the study of the art to the professional student, and render it accessible to all. Among Gwilt's minor works may be mentioned his 'Elements of Architectural Criticism for the Use of Students, Amateurs, and Reviewers,' first published in 1837, and reissued with an appendix in the following year. ”

“ In private life Beazley was a pleasant companion, a good and witty causeur, some of his bonsmots being remembered and repeated to this day, such as his reply to a lady's inquiry why the rooks near her house made so much noise, that they had caws for conversation. ”

“ The numerous mansions and villas designed by him are distinguished by suitability of internal arrangement and simplicity and purity of style, and many thriving localities in some of the chief towns of the country still evidence his skill in the laying out of building estates. ”

“ It rapidly became and still is the standard authority for the practising lawyer in Scotland, and a third edition, which, considering the age of the work, is now much needed, is understood to be at present in course of preparation. Dickson's amiability and geniality made him popular in private life. ”

“ Paul's, was looked upon as a remarkable constructive effort, especially for an architect at the time only twenty-three years old. In 1825 Burton was employed by the government to carry out the Hyde Park improvements, which included the laying out of the roads in and around the park and the erection of the façade and triumphal arch at Hyde Park Corner. ”

“ In 1771 his name appears associated with those of the foremost architects of the time in the foundation of an 'Architects' Club,' to meet at the Thatched House Tavern to dinner on the first Thursday in every month. ”

“ He vas a man of the highest honour, integrity, and independence.' Habitually reticent and desirous of avoiding criticism, to which he was sensitive, he has been wrongly accused of selfishness and jealousy. ”

“ In July 1856 he accepted the office of procureur and advocate-general of the Mauritius, where he remained for the next ten years. In 1867, on account of the failing health of his wife, he obtained leave of absence, and while in this country in 1868 he was offered by Sheriff Glassford Bell, then sheriff-principal of Lanarkshire, the office of sheriff-substitute in Glasgow. ”

“ The work 'serves the one useful and necessary purpose of showing practically and constructively what the builders of the middle ages really did with the materials they had at hand, and how all those materials, whatever they were, were made to harmonise' (Builder, xxxv. 1051) . Of Brandon's original professional labours the best known are the large church in Gordon Square, London, executed in conjunction with Mr. Ritchie for the members of the catholic apostolic church; the small church of St. ”

“ He gave many away, however, and the book is now extremely rare. It contains the earliest exposition of many of his favourite theories, particularly that regarding the mode in which the ancient Greek temples were lighted by means of a triple roof and clerestory. ”

“ He also wrote articles on architecture and music for the 'Encyclopædia Metropolitana' and for Brande's 'Dictionary of Literature, Science, and Art;' 'Rudiments of the Anglo-Saxon Tongue,' published by Pickering in 1835 ”

“ He was soon, however, called to his father's post of architect and surveyor to the corporation, which he held until the passing of the Municipal Reform Act in 1832, when he retired into private life, and died on 21 Aug. ”

“ R. R. Banks. He continued to assist his father till the latter's sudden death in 1860, but he had already made considerable progress in working on his own account. In 1848 he had become a student at the Royal Academy, and even while assisting his father found time to devote to works of his own. The first of these thus designed and executed was St. Saviour's Church, Haverstock Hill, in 1855–6, and his designs for St. ”