Acknowledgments

Weber, Susan

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Acknowledgments

Susan Weber (Editor)

William Kent: Designing Georgian Britain

Acknowledgments

Author

Susan Weber (Editor)

PublisherBard Graduate Center

PublisherYale University Press

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-20582

Acknowledgments

The idea of organizing a William Kent exhibition at the Bard Graduate Center was first suggested to me by furniture historian and mentor Geoffrey Beard in 1993, at the time of this institution’s inception. What could be more fitting than an exhibition celebrating a polymath who designed everything from public buildings to women’s costumes, in a career embracing a wide range of objects, contexts, materials, and techniques? Kent’s achievements parallel the goals of an institution established to encourage and facilitate the study of the decorative arts. Now, some twenty years later, William Kent: Designing Georgian Britain has become a reality.

Julius Bryant, Keeper of Word and Image at the Victoria and Albert Museum, was my co-curator and constant companion throughout this (re)search and a contributor of essays to this catalogue. I am grateful for his generosity, insight, and determination. I would like to offer personal thanks to the other Kent enthusiasts who have been generous with their time and knowledge, contributing essays to this catalogue and assisting in the selection of the works for the exhibition: Geoffrey Beard, Steven Brindle, John Hardy, John Harris, John Dixon Hunt, Tim Knox, Clarissa Campbell Orr, Frank Salmon, Nicholas Savage, Michael Snodin, David Watkin, and Roger White. In particular, I would like to recognize the extraordinary talent and superhuman effort of the project’s research associate and contributing author, Catherine Arbuthnott. During the past five years, she has attended to all of the organizational and logistical details, guided us through the numerous archives and libraries, and assisted with the photography of Kent material in Great Britain.

The essential partners for the success of this project have been the lenders to the exhibition, including owners or keepers of Kent-designed buildings, private collectors, museums, libraries, and universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. They have shared precious eighteenth-century artifacts with the public, and allowed our research team access to materials for study and eventual publication. The Victoria and Albert Museum is the major lender to the exhibition, and I am grateful to Martin Roth, Charlotte Anderson, Louisa Collins, Ruth Cribb, Stephanie Cripps, Ann Eatwell, Jonathan Hopson, Ethan Kalemjian, Barbara Lasic, Rebecca Lim, Linda Lloyd-Jones, Geoffrey Marsh, Sarah Medlam, Miranda Peters, Abraham Thomas, Tim Travis, Rebecca Wallace, Alexandra Westbrook, Damien Whitmore, Christopher Wilk, and Liz Wilkinson. I am also deeply indebted to His Grace the Duke of Devonshire for making the rich holdings of Kent material at Chatsworth available for the exhibition.

To all of the lenders and their staffs for making this exhibition possible, I express my thanks: Anglesey Abbey, The Fairhaven Collection, National Trust: Fernanda Torrente, Paul Highnam; Ashmolean Museum: Christopher Brown, Aisha Burtenshaw, Hannah Kendall, Karine Sauvignon, Amy Taylor, John Whiteley, Timothy Wilson, Katherine Wodehouse; Badminton House: His Grace the Duke of Beaufort, Elaine Milsom, Hilary Peters; Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford: Sarah Thomas, Bruce Barker-Benfield, Tricia Buckingham, Greg Colley, Colin Harris, Eve Oledzka, Richard Ovenden, Madeline Slaven; The British Library: Jovita Callueng, Robert Davies, Barbara O’Connor, Lesley Thomas; The British Museum: Neil MacGregor, Andrew Basham, Hugo Chapman, Antony Griffiths, Jennifer Ramkalawon, Janice Reading, Angela Roche, Agata Rutkowska; The Devonshire Collection, Chatsworth House: Matthew Hirst, Ciara Gallagher, Diane Naylor, Henry Coleman, Charles Noble, Hannah Obee, Andrew Peppitt, James Towe, Jane Wood; Easton Neston: Leon Max, Ekaterina Stoukalova; Eileen Harris; English Heritage, Chiswick House: Ricky Pound; English Heritage, London: Justin Ayton, Duncan Brown, Emma Brown, Jonathan Butler, Tamsin Cooke, Javis Gurr, Cathy Power, Treve Rosoman, Nigel Wilkins; Euston Hall: His Grace the Duke of Grafton, the Dowager Duchess, the late Duke of Grafton, Andrew Blenkiron, Linda Campbell, Philip and Tibouche Gunn, Edward Wortley; Holkham Hall: Viscount Coke, Michael Daley, Lorraine Herrieven, Christine Hiskey, David Horton-Fawkes, Colin Shearer; Houghton Hall: The Marquess of Cholmondeley, Susan Cleaver, Terry Stuckey, David Yaxley; London Borough of Lambeth Archives Department: Jon Newman, Andrew O’Brian; City of London, London Metropolitan Archives: Daniel Beagles, Bridget Howlett, Deborah Jenkins, Elizabeth Scudder, Jeremy Smith, Philippa Smith; Lloyd McCaffery; Merton Heritage & Local Studies Centre, London Borough of Merton: Sarah Gould; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Malcolm Rogers, Thomas Michie, Marta Fodor, Kim Pashko; Museum of London: Sharon Ament, Nickos Gogolos, Sarah Williams; National Archives of the UK: Paul Johnson, Oliver Morley, Juergen Vervoorst; National Army Museum: Richard Dabb, Janice Murray, Jenny Spencer-Smith; National Portrait Gallery, London: Sandy Nairne, Emma Butterfield, David McNeff, Juliet Simpson, Dawn Somerville; Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery: Fiona Ford, Andrew Moore, Francesca Vanke; Philadelphia Museum of Art: Timothy Rub, Christopher D. M. Atkins, Alice Beamesderfer, Teresa Lignelli, Joseph Rishel, Shannon Schuler, Giema Tsakuginow; Queen’s College, University of Oxford: Jane Eagan, Amanda Saville; Raynham Hall: Marquess Townshend, the Dowager Marchioness, the late Marquess Townshend, Scilla Landale; Rievaulx Terrace and Temples, National Trust: Christopher Rowell; Royal Botanic Gardens: Julia Buckley, Kiri Ross-Jones, Christopher Mills; Royal Collection: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Jonathan Marsden, Daniel Bell, Caroline de Guitaut, Katie Holyoak, Karen Lawson, David Oakey, Louise Oliver, Janice Sacher, Elaine Ward; Royal Institute of British Architects: Charles Hind, Catriona Cornelius, Justine Sambrook; Sir John Soane’s Museum: Stephen Astley, Julie Brock, Helen Dorey, Susan Palmer; Governors of Stowe School: Michael Bevington; Westminster Abbey Library: Dean and Chapter, Tony Trowles; Yale Centre for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection: Amy Meyers, Scott Wilcox, Timothy Goodhue; York Minster Archive: Dean and Chapter, Peter Young, Andrew Aegon, Vicky Harrison, Sarah Menys, Antonio Jimenez-Milian, Lisa Sinclair.

A multitude of archives, libraries, museums, and the owners and keepers of Kent-designed buildings allowed access to their sites and collections and shared their accumulated knowledge of Kent. I am also grateful to many individuals, including art historians, art dealers, curators, and auction house staff, who shared information and connections and opened their archives for research and photographs. An enormous debt of gratitude is owed to many others: Alnwick Castle, Northumberland Estates: Christopher Hunwick; Francis Ames-Lewis; Archivio Storico dell’Accademia di San Luca, Rome; Art Institute of Chicago: Emily Vokt Ziemba; Avery Library, Columbia University, New York; Bruce Bailey; Rosemary Baird; Bank of England Archive, London: Ben White; Toby Barnard; Miles Barton; Basilica di San Clemente, Rome: Father Terence Crotty; David Batcock; Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service: Nigel Lutt; Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven: Moira Fitzgerald, Stephen C. Jones; Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vatican City; H. Blairman and Sons, London: Martin Levy; Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire: Kate Ballenger, Jeri Bapasola, Caroline McCormack, Karen Wiseman; Bolton Hall, Yorkshire: Leslie Gore, Benedict Heyes, Roy Lingard; Boynton Hall and St. Andrews Church, Boynton: Richard Marriott; Bridgeman Art Library, New York: Thomas Haggerty; Cabinet Office, Whitehall (Old Treasury Building), London: Brian Pilgrim; Castle Howard, York: Anna Louise Mason; Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies; C.E.A Cheesman, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, College of Arms, London; Chester Cathedral: Nicholas Fry; Chevening House, Kent: Colonel Richard Brook, Kay Thorne; Chiesa e Fondazione Reale Belga San Giuliano dei Fiamminghi, Rome: Father Hugo Vanermen; Christ Church College, Oxford: Judith Curthoys, Janet McMullin; Christie’s London: Marijke Booth, Clemency Henty, Matthew Morgan, Orlando Rock, Francis Russell, Jennifer Wright; Churches Conservation Trust (St. Peter’s Church, Deene): Sally Porter; Jane Clark; The Clermont Club, 44 Berkeley Square, London: Joanna Ismail, Lorraine Rooney; Niall Clutton; Pam Coote; Cornwall Record Office; Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell-Dormer; Country Life Picture Library, London: Justin Hobson; Courtauld Institute of Art, London: Stephanie Buck, Michael Cousins; Tim Couzens; Jamie Crowther; Jane Davies; Deene Park, Corby, Northamptonshire: Edmund Brudenell and the Hon. Mrs. Brudenell, Benjamin Wilson-Pratt; Ditchley Foundation, Ditchley Park, Oxfordshire: Brigadier Christopher Galloway; 10 Downing Street, London: David Heaton; Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough: Ian Stubbs; Peter Draper; Duchy of Cornwall Archives: Elizabeth Stuart; East Sussex Record Office; David Edmond; Belinda Ellis; English Heritage, National Monuments Record, Swindon: Jane Ashworth, Rhiannon Hunt, Alyson Rogers, Lucinda Walker, Emma Whinton-Brown, Nigel Wilkins; Esher Place, Surrey: Richard Griffiths; Esher Place Grotto, Surrey: Marianne Steele; Essex Archives; Eton College, Windsor: Rachel Bond, Penny Hatfield, Henrietta Ryan, Charlotte Villiers; Nicholas Fairfax; Fairfax House, York: Peter Brown, Hannah Phillip; Father Simon Fisher; Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge: Nicholas Robinson; Terry Friedman; Richard Garnier; Georgian Group: Ashley Hannebrink; Greenwich Foundation, London: Rachel Dickenson; Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles: Tracey Schuster, Sarah Sherman; Gilbert Gray, Q.C.; Gloucestershire Archives; The Goldsmiths’ Company, London: David Beasley; Goodwood Collection, Chichester, West Sussex: Jane Bartholomew, James Peill; Aubrey Greenwood; Grimsthorpe and Drummond Castle Trust, Perthshire: Ray Biggs; Alain Gruber; Guildhall Library, London; Michael and Alexandra Hanbury-Williams; Nicholas Hanbury-Williams; Ian Harris; Harris Lindsay, London: Jonathan Harris and Bruce Lindsay; Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston: Amanda Draper; Christopher Hartop; A. Hassell-Smith; Hatfield House, Hertfordshire: Robin Harcourt Williams, Vicky Perry; Ashley Hicks; Historic Royal Palaces: Sebastian Edwards, Robin Forster, Kate Frane, Annie Heron, Sophie Julien-Lees, Joanna Marschner, Kent Rawlinson, Zoe Roberts, Lucy Worsley; C. Hoare and Co.: Pamela Hunter; Niall Hobhouse; Horseheath Hall, Cambridgeshire: Nelson Cornish, Alan Covey, Frank Water; The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanic Gardens, San Marino: Sydney Moritz-LeVine, Edward Rinderle, Mary L. Robertson, Jill Cogen; John Hustler; William Hustler; Ilford Central Library (Redbridge Libraries and Archives Service); International Fine Arts Conservation Studios, Atlanta: Richard Pelter; Ian Irving; Sally Jeffery; Kavli Royal Society International Centre, Chicheley Hall: Rebecca Harris, Ian Wallace; Kensington Central Reference Library (Kensington and Chelsea Local Studies Collection); Alan Knowles; Alastair Laing; Lamport Hall, Northampton: Carole Almond; Landmark Trust, Berkshire: Nina Howe-Davies; Lawrences Auctioneers, Crewkerne: Richard Gold; Lees Court, Kent: Lady Sondes; Leicestershire Record Office; Lady Lever Art Gallery, Wirral; Lewis Walpole Library, Yale University, New Haven: Susan Walker; Lincolnshire Archives: Ged Payne; London Parks and Gardens Trust: Colin Wing; Lowell Libson, London: Sarah Hobrough; Lowther Estate Trust, Westmorland: Allison Day, Francesca Halfacre, John Lumley; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Lucinda Ross, Dina Selfridge, Melissa Smith; James Miller; Richard Morris; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: Veronica Keyes; Narford Hall, Norfolk: Rosemary Fountaine, Sue Fountaine; National Maritime Museum, Greenwich: Rebecca Hawksworth, Simon Stephens, David Taylor; National Museums Liverpool: Nathan Pendelbury; National Trust: Anna Bell, Harvey Edgington, Sian Evans, Anna Harrison, Paul Highnam, Chris Lacey, Juliet Maxey; National Trust, Blickling Estate, Norwich: Patricia Murfin, Paul Underwood; National Trust, Claremont Landscape Garden, Esher, Surrey: Andrew King, Kim Kitson; National Trust, Powis Castle, Powys: Margaret Gray; National Trust, Lodge Park and Sherborne Estate, Gloucestershire: Natalie Bradley, Jeremy Capadose; National Trust, Stourhead, Wiltshire: Emily Blanshard; National Trust, Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire: Tracie Tungate, Richard Wheeler, Catherine Wynne; New York Public Library: Andrea Fielder, Tom Lisanti, Stephen Saks; Newham Local Studies Library, Stratford: Richard Durack, Jenny Munro-Collins; Norfolk Record Office: Lucy Purvis, Freda M. Wilkins-Jones; Northamptonshire Record Office; Lady Diane Nutting; Ormsby Hall, Lincolnshire: Adrian Massingberd-Mundy, Sarah Perceval; Oxfordshire Record Office; Hugh Pagan; Palazzo Colonna, Rome: Anne-Cécile Gasmi; Brian Wyndham Payne; Prudence Cuming Associates, Ltd., London; Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Belfast: Kelly Cummins; Gordon Ramsay; Richmond Borough Art Collection, Orleans House Gallery, Twickenham: Chris Burton, Mark De Novellis, Betsy Lewis-Holmes; Trevor Rickard; The Ritz, 22 Arlington Street, London: Gerrie Pitt; Alan J. Robertson; Rokeby Hall, County Durham: Sir Andrew Morritt, Robert Latter; Rowley Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers, Ely: Diane White; Royal Academy of Arts, London: Jenny Camilleri; Royal Geographical Society, London: Jamie Owen; Royal Institution, London: Jane Harrison; Royal Institution of Cornwall: Angela Broome; Royal Library and Archive, Windsor: Kate Heard; Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto: Nicola Woods; The Royal Parks, London: Rebecca Isaac, Katy Murray, Eleanor O’Riordan; St. George Hanover Square, London: Rev. Roderick Leece, Seamus O’Hare, Stephen Wikner; St. Helen’s Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch: Rev. Brian Robertson, Paul Rodden; St. Mary Abbots Church, Kensington, London: Father Gillean Craig, George MacAllan; St. Nicholas Church, Chiswick: Rev. Patrick Tuft, Wendy Cundy, Jane Watson; St. Nicholas Church, Tolleshunt D’Arcy: Christina Gorringe; St. Peter’s Church, Kirkthorpe: Rev. Leon Collyer, Charles Kirk; Sherborne Castle, Dorset: Ann Smith; Shotover House, Dorset: Sir Beville Stanier, Bt., Alexander Stanier, Alan Johnston; Cinzia Maria Sicca; The Silver Society, London: Jonathan Gray; Society of Genealogists, London: Elsie Churchill; Sotheby’s London: Mark Griffith-Jones, Bryony Kirby, Joanna Ling, Katherine Marshall, John Ward; Southampton City Archives: Joanne Smith; Stowe House Preservation Trust, North Buckinghamshire: Anna McEvoy, Pam Rowett; Suffolk Record Office: Katie Vaughan; Annie Sulzberger; Surrey History Centre; Tony Taverner; Alan Terrill; Temple Newsam House, West Yorkshire: Judith Ferris, James Lomax; University of Leeds Special Collections: Karen Mee; University of Nottingham Manuscripts and Special Collections: Deborah Hopkinson; Wakefield Lodge, Northamptonshire: Sarah Richmond-Watson; Wallace Collection, London: Jurgen Huber, Eleanor Tollfree; Paul Walter; Wayneflete Tower, Esher, Surrey: Lisa Klepper, Penny Rainbow; West Sussex Record Office: Frances Lansley; Westminster Abbey, London: Alex Anderson, Duncan Jeffery, Laura Kinsey; Westminster City Archives: Rory Lalwan; Michael Wheeler; James Wickes; William Kent House, Bridlington: The Lord Feoffees, Cheryl Walker; Matthew Wilson; Michael I. Wilson; Wilton House, Salisbury: The Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Nigel Bailey, Sarah King, John Martin Robinson, Chris Rolfe, Charlotte Spender; Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre: Gill Neal; The Wimbledon Society, London: Cameron Brown; Worcester College, Oxford: Mark Bainbridge, John Gibbons; Lucy Wood; York Art Gallery; York Assembly Rooms: Philip Thake, Sancha Narayan; and James Yorke.

An exhibition and publication of this size requires excellent and extensive planning and hard work. My most sincere thanks to Nina Stritzler-Levine, Director, BGC Gallery and Gallery Publications, and Marianne Lamonaca, Associate Director, BGC Gallery and Chief Curator, for the important roles they have played in this project. Exhibition Designer Ian Sullivan has created a setting that is sensitive to the eighteenth-century works and to the needs of our public. Media Producer Han Vu created the films and other media in the show. Registrar Eric Edler organized the myriad and specialized details for the gathering of these precious objects for display in New York and London. BGC Associate Curators Earl Martin and Ann Tartsinis proofread manuscripts and provided support for numerous tasks. Alexis Mucha procured the hundreds of images that populate this volume and carefully reviewed all of the images prior to publication. Guided by Chief Librarian Heather Topcik, the BGC librarians assisted in solving many research problems. Director of Education Rebecca Allan developed the fine education programs that accompany the exhibition; Jeffrey Collins, Pat Kirkham, Elena Pinto Simon, and Mark LeBlanc organized the Kent symposium. My thanks go to the many BGC students who participated in the project, in particular Elizabeth St. George and Andrew Goodhouse for their help organizing the bibliography and checklist and chasing down difficult sources, as well as Kelsey Brow, Yenna Chan, and Virginia Spofford. Thanks are also due to BGC staff members in other areas of the organization. Lynn Thommen and her staff carried out the fund-raising campaign; Hollis Barnhart skillfully coordinated and cultivated the public relations campaign; and facilities and security staff members, under the direction of James Congregane and Chandler Small, maintain the buildings for the safety and security of our staff, visitors, and loan objects. My sincere thanks to my assistant, Izabella Elwart, for the support she provides to me and to the entire team. Former BGC staff members Michelle Hargrave, Olga Valle Tetkowski, and Brian Keliher were instrumental in the formative stages of this complex project.

At Yale University Press in London, I am fortunate to have worked with Sally Salvesen and her colleague Sophie Sheldrake on the production of this catalogue. Martina D’Alton, a longtime BGC collaborator, capably and sensitively copyedited and styled this enormous volume over several years. Barbara Burn provided additional editorial support, and Joyce Hitchcock completed the proofreading. Enid Zafran created the index for this volume with great care. Susan Marsh’s book design expertly unites art and function to create an exquisite platform for the texts and illustrations. Tina Henderson skillfully typeset the publication. The superb photography in this catalogue is the work of Bruce White, the photography department of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and many others (see photography credits, following the index).

Finally, special thanks to the sponsors of the exhibition and publication for their generous funding: Lord Rothschild, Edward Lee Cave, Dr. H. Woody Brock, Christie’s, Philip Hewat-Jaboor, John A. Werwaiss, Patricia and Martin Levy, The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, Friends of the BADA Trust, Ronald Phillips, Ltd., and two donors who wish to remain anonymous.

SUSAN WEBER

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