The Gardens

Lord Burlington's gardens were inspired by such gardens as those of the Emperor Hadrian's Villa Adriana at Tivoli, from which the three statues at the end of the exedra were alleged to have come

There can be no doubt that the gardens at Chiswick were an attempt to symbolically recreate a garden of ancient Rome which were believed to have followed the form of the gardens of Greece. The gardens, like the Villa, were inspired by the architecture of ancient Rome combined with the influence of poetry and theatre design.

The gardens at Chiswick were originally of a standard Jacobean design but were from the 1720s were in a constant state of transition with Burlington and Kent experimenting in new forms of design and influences incorporating such diverse elements as mock fortification, artificial boundaries (e.g. the Ha Ha), classical fabriques, statues, groves, egyptianizing objects, bowling greens, winding walks, cascades and water features.

The Bagnio. Designed by Lord Burlington and Colen Campbell in 1717

Authors of antiquity, such as Horace and Pliny, were major influences on eighteenth century minds for their descriptions of their own gardens and were particularly important as they describe gardens with alleys shaded by trees, parterres, topiary, and fountains.

The first architect of the gardens at Chiswick appears to have been the King's gardener, Charles Bridgeman (1690–1738), who was believed to have worked on the gardens with Lord Burlington around 1720, and subsequently with William Kent, whom Lord Burlington had brought back with him on his return from his second Grand Tour in 1719. William Kent was also inspired by the picture-postcards scenes of the French artists Nicolas Poussin (1594–1665) and Claude Lorrain (1600–1682). The poet Alexander Pope (who had his own Villa with gardens in close by Twickenham), was also involved and responsible for confirming Lord Burlington's belief that Roman and Greek gardens were largely 'informal' affairs, with nature ruled by God.

A reconstructed ground plan of the younger Pliny's Tuscan Villa, from Robert Castell, The Villas of the Ancient, 1728. Castell dedicated this book to Lord Burlington

Evidence for this belief was provided through his translation into English of Homer's cornerstones of European literature The Iliad and The Odyssey which provided brief glimpses of Greek gardens which gave validation to Burlington's belief in the naturalistic appearance of Roman gardens. Theatrical aspects were added to the gardens by William Kent who studied the theatre and masque designs of Inigo Jones for the Stuart Court which were owned by Lord Burlington and housed within his Villa. Burlington, Kent and Pope were also informed by the writings of Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftsbury (1671–1713) who advocated 'variety' in a garden, not complete deformalisation.

The gardens at Chiswick were filled with fabriques (garden buildings) which illustrated Lord Burlington's knowledge of Roman, Greek, Egyptian and Renaissance architecture, and statues and architecture which expressed his Whig (and very possibly Jacobite) ideals.

Lord Burlington's garden at Chiswick was one of the first to include gardens buildings and ancient statues which were to symbolically envoke the mood and appearance of ancient Rome. Soon after other English gardens such as Stourhead, Stowe, West Wycombe, Holkham, and Rousham were to follow suit creating a type of garden which eventually would become known internationally as the English Landscape Garden. Lord Burlington's gardens at Chiswick had a number of these fabriques including the Ionic Temple, Bagnio, Pagan Temple, Rustic House, and two Deer Houses, several of which will be discused below.

Beyond the exedra in the gardens lies an area known as the 'Orange Tree Garden' in which was situated a small garden building known as the Ionic Temple.

The Temple of Fortuna Virilis- the source for the portico of the Ionic Temple

The Ionic Temple is circular in form and is derived from either the Pantheon in Rome or possibly from the Temple of Romulus. The portico of this temple is derived from the Temple of Fortuna Virilis which William Kent illustrates in the ceiling of the Red Velvet Room within the Villa. Immediately in front of the Temple lies a circular pool of water with a small obelisk positioned in its centre. Around the base of the pool of water are three concentric rings of raised grass conforming originally to a 3:4:5 ratio echoing the dimentions of the Red and Green Velvet Room within the Villa. A second obelisk was erected at the centre of another patte d'oie or 'Goose Foot' beyond the cascade to west of the Villa.

View of the portico of the Ionic Temple in the Orange Tree Garden at Chiswick Villa

A theater of hedges known as an exedra was designed by William Kent and originally displayed ancient statues of three unknown Roman gentlemen. However, these three statues were later speculatively 'identified' by the writer Daniel Defoe (1659–1731) as Caesar (100-44 BC) and Pompey (106-48 B.C) responsible for the decline of the Roman republic facing a statue of Cicero (106-43 B.C), the defender of the Republic. This was intended as a criticism of the policies of Burlington's opponent, Prime Minister Robert Walpole. However, it was the figures of Homer, Virgil, Socrates, Lucius Verus and Lycurgus which once graced the exedra whose political message was one of democracy and anti-tyranny. (William Kent made a similar statement against Walpole for Lord Cobham at Stowe. The original design by William Kent for the end of the exedra was a stone 'Temple of Worthies' which was rejected by Lord Burlington and subsequently used by Lord Cobham at Stowe).

William Kent also added a cascade (a symbolic Grotto), inspired by the upper cascade of the gardens of the Villa Aldobrandini. Kent's garden also featured a flower garden, an orchard, an aviary (which included an owl) and a symmetrical planned arrangement of trees known as the 'Grove'. To the side of the Grove was a patte d'oie, or 'Goosefoot', three avenues which terminated by buildings including the 'Bagnio' (or Casino, designed by Lord Burlington and Colen Campbell) in 1716, the 'Pagan Temple' (designed by the Catholic Baroque architect James Gibbs) and the Rustic House (designed by Lord Burlington).

William Kent's cascade was derived from Italian sources and apart from being a waterfall was a symbolic Grotto

Terminating one end of the 'Ha Ha' stands a Deer House designed by Lord Burlington. A second Deer House once stood at the opposite end of the 'Ha Ha' until replaced by Inigo Jones gateway in 1738 (see below). Both Deer Houses featured pyramidal roofs and characteristic 'Virtuvian' doors; a feature that comes directly from Palladio's woodcuts from his I Quattro Libri dell' Architettura of 1570. Immediately behind the Ha Ha and positioned between the two Deer Houses was a building known as the Orangery, which, as its name suggests, originally housed Lords Burlington's orange trees over the cold winter period (some of these trees were once positioned around the perimeter of the Ionic Temple). Part of the floor of this building was laid out in imitation of a Roman mosaic which English Heritage archaeologists in 2009 dated to the mid eighteenth century. Next to the remaining Deer Houses stands the Doric column on which was placed a statue of the Venus di' Medici.

Statue of Venus on Doric column. Venus was the most common garden statue in the 18th Century English garden

In the eighteenth century statues of Venus were the most common statue in a garden as it was known that the goddess Venus was the protector of gardens and gardeners. The statue that can be seen on the Doric column today is a copy in Portland stone and was commissioned by the Chiswick House Friends in 2009. Other statues that Lord Burlington has made for gardens included a wolf, a boar, a statue of the Roman god Mercury, a gladiator, Hercules, Cain and Able, a goat and a lion and lioness.

The lawn at the rear of the house was created by 1745 and planted with young Cedar of Lebanon (important in Freemasonry) trees which alternate with stone funerary urns which were designed by William Kent. Placed between the urns and the Cedar of Lebanon are three more sphinxes who are orientated to face the easterly direction of the rising sun.

A lake was created around 1727 by widening the Bollo Brook. The excess soil was then heaped up behind William Kent's cascade to produce an elevated walkway for people to admire the gardens and also offered a view of the nearby river Thames.

The Inigo Jones gateway, bought by Lord Burlington from the great collector Sir Hans Sloane. Hans Sloane's collection of antiquities formed the nucleus of the British Museum

A gateway designed by Inigo Jones in 1621 at Beaufort House in Chelsea (home of Sir Hans Sloane) was bought and removed by Lord Burlington and rebuilt in the gardens at Chiswick in 1738.

It has also been claimed that Lord Burlington was influenced by Chinese gardens which were largely informal, but the flavor of the orient was not evoked in Burlington's gardens which were visually classically inspired. These gardens were universally Roman in its outlook. (It is also worth noting that there were no nods to England's past glories or important historic figures at Chiswick other than England's Roman (and Trojan) past. Unlike Stowe, with its Temple of Worthies and busts such as the Black Prince, Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare, Burlington's gardens at Chiswick did not romance or mythologize England's illustrious past. This was possibly due to Burlington's intense dislike of the Gothic style which he regarded as barbaric and backward).

Lord Burlington's gardens at Chiswick received the great benefit of being one of the most painted English gardens on the eighteenth century. The painter Peter Andreas Rysbrack, for example, was commissioned to paint a series of paintings to record the transformation of the garden from its formal Jacobean appearance to its largely informal picturesque form at the end of the 1750s. Numbering eight in total (and a second set copied), these paintings today hang in the Green Velvet Room within the Villa. Other artists who were commissioned to record the appearance of the gardens were England's first landscape painter George Lambert (1700–1765), the French painter Jacques Rigaud (1681–1754) and the cartographer John Rocque (1709–1762) who produced an engraved survey of Chiswick in 1736 showing the Villa and many of its garden buildings.

Later Developments (and demolitions) in the Gardens

The Rustic House at the end of 'Napoleon's walk'. This fabrique was one of the few to survive the demolitions of the fifth Duke of Devonshire

The Neoclassical Bridge was designed for Georgiana by the architect James Wyatt

It is unfortunate that in 1778 the decision was taken by the fifty Duke of Devonshire, on advice of his gardener Samuel Lapidge, to demolish several of the garden buildings erected by Lord Burlington just a few years before, including the Bagnio and Pagan Temple, both of which terminated the avenues of the patte d'oie. It was also at this time that the decision was made to fill in the two rectangular water basins to the side and rear of the Villa.

The Classic Bridge located beyond the Orange Tree Garden was built for the famous Georgiana Spencer (1757–1806), glamorous wife of the William Cavendish, fifth Duke of Devonshire, and was constructed in 1774 to the designs of James Wyatt (1757–1806).

The Sixth Duke of Devonshire (the 'Bachelor' Duke) obtained permission in 1813 to relocate Burlington Road beyond the two piers at the front of the forecourt to its present position.

The gardens of Little Moreton Hall, an adjoining property to the east were added in 1812, the Hall itself was demolished. The Italian Garden was laid out on the newly acquired grounds in that year to a design by Lewis Kennedy. The Conservatory adjoining the Italian Garden was completed in 1813, and at 96m was the longest at that time. A collection of Camellias is housed in the Conservatory some of which survive from 1828 to this day. The garden designer Joseph Paxton (1803–1865), creator of the Crystal Palace, started his career in the gardens at Chiswick for the Royal Horticultural Society before his talents were recognised by William Cavendish, the sixth Duke of Devonshire and he relocated as ‘Head Gardener’ to Chatsworth House, Derbyshire.

Chiswick House

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Chiswick House is a neo-Palladian villa in Burlington Lane, Chiswick, in the London Borough of Hounslow, England.

Chiswick House

Chiswick House today

Type Historic house

Proprietor London Borough of Hounslow

Managed by English Heritage

Size 65 acres (0.26 km 2 )

Main feature Palladian villa

Other features Park and garden

Public access Yes

Museum No

Exhibition Yes

Region Greater London

Address Burlington Lane

Postcode London W4

Parking Yes

Shop Yes

Website EH Chiswick House

51°29′1″N 0°15′31″W 51.48361°N 0.25861°W Coordinates :

51°29′1″N 0°15′31″W 51.48361°N 0.25861°W

Chiswick House

Classic Bridge in Chiswick House grounds, built in 1774, design attributed to James Wyatt.

Contents

[hide] 1 History 2 The House 3 The Gardens 4 External links

5 References

[edit] History

Chiswick House was inherited by Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington and 4th Earl of Cork, known as "the Apollo of the Arts." The mansion was a medium sized jacobean mansion used as a summer retreat to get away from the heat of London in the same way as Marble Hill, Strawberry Hill and Syon Park were used. He decided to add to the house by building a villa to one side solely to hold his collection of art and furniture. Since there was accommodation provided there was no need for bedrooms in the new annex. The "architect earl" designed it with William Kent and built it in 1726-9. Kent also designed the gardens which according to the Chiswick House and Gardens Trust Web site were the inspiration for the English landscape garden.

Burlington's daughter Charlotte married William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, and the house and gardens passed to that family after her early death in the 1750s. The house was used occasionally by the Devonshires, who had many other residences, and they added two small wings to the villa to increase the amount of accommodation. Built in 1788 these were designed by James Wyatt in a sympathetic style, but inimical to the concept of the house as a compact perfectly formed villa, and were removed in 1952.

The 9th Duke of Devonshire sold Chiswick House to Middlesex County Council (with contributions from public subscription including King George V) in 1929. The grounds are now in the care of the London Borough of Hounslow the House is in the care of English Heritage. The garden is open to the public without charge.

Hounslow and English Heritage formed the Chiswick House and Gardens Trust in 2005 to unify the running of the House and Grounds. The Trust will take over administration once the works are complete following an approx GBP 7.6M Heritage Lottery Fund Grant, complemented by approx GBP 4M from other sources, for restoration of the Grounds.

[edit] The House

The octagonal domed Palladian villa is inspired by the Villa Capra "La Rotonda" near Vicenza and at the same time a fine example of 18th-century architecture, with its colonnaded portico on the upper storey, the frescoed ceilings, the velvet rooms and the stone rooms. It differs from the Villa Capra in having three different designs to the facades (front, back, and two matching sides) rather than being symmetrical all the way round. There is also a superb collection of paintings and Palladian furnishings.

The villa was never intended for occupation, having no bedrooms or kitchen, instead being a place to display Burlington's collection. Chiswick House is believed by some to have been built as a Masonic lodge or temple, and English Heritage, which administers the site, offers a tour exploring the building's Masonic symbolism.

In 2009 the facade of the house was used as the setting for the Biffy Clyro music video for the single "That Golden Rule".

[edit] The Gardens

The gardens, like the villa, were inspired by Italian Renaissance gardens and classical architecture and literature, in particular by the gardens of Roman villas described precisely in the letters of the Roman historian Pliny; gardens with alleys shaded by trees, with parterres, topiary, and fountains. The first architect of the gardens was Charles Bridgeman, who worked on them until 1720, and then William Kent, whom Lord Burlington had met during his second journey to Italy in 1723.

The gardens were filled with symbolic architectural constructions which showed Burlington's knowledge of Roman, Greek, Renaissance architecture, and statues and architecture which expressed his political ideals. The garden included a small model of the Pantheon and an obelisk. A theater of hedges displayed busts of Caesar and Pompey, responsible for the decline of the Roman republic facing a statue of Cicero, the defender of the Republic. This was intended as a criticism of the policies of Burlington's opponent, Prime Minister Robert Walpole.

William Kent added a cascade, inspired by the upper cascade of the gardens of the Villa Aldbrandini. Kent's garden also featured a flower garden, an orchard, a carefully-planned grove of trees. and a garden of orange trees, surrounding the small replica of the Pantheon.

The lawn at the rear of the house was created by 1745 and planted with cypresses alternating with stone urns creating the view seen at the Chiswick House and Gardens Trust Web site, leading to the Patte d'oie (or goosefoot) an arrangement of three radiating paths.

A lake was created around 1727 by widening the Bollo Brook which is today carried on the bed of the lake in a pipe. The Classic Bridge was constructed in 1774 and its design is attributed to James Wyatt.

A gateway designed by Inigo Jones in 1621 at Beaufort House in Chelsea and was removed and rebuilt by Burlington at Chiswick House in 1738.

The grounds has two "wilderness" areas and numerous other features described at Chiswick House and Gardens Trust Web site.

The grounds of Moreton Hall, an adjoining property to the East were added in 1812, the Hall itself was demolished. The Italian Garden was laid out on the newly acquired grounds in that year to a design by Lewis Kennedy. The Conservatory adjoining the Italian Garden was completed in 1813, and at 96m was the longest at that time. A collection of Camellias is housed in the Conservatory some of which survive from 1828 to this day.

In 1966, The Beatles shot films for their two songs called "Paperback Writer" and "Rain" in the grounds - many of the shots being in the conservatory among the camellias.

The ashes of British actor, broadcaster and songwriter Michael Flanders are scattered in the grounds.

Chiswick House is Grade 1 listed, neo-Palladian, neoclassical Villa built during the reign of King George II. It is situated in Burlington Lane, Chiswick, in the London Borough of Hounslow, England.

Chiswick House

Chiswick House today

Type Historic house

Proprietor London Borough of Hounslow

Managed by English Heritage

Size 65 acres (0.26 km 2 )

Main feature Neo-Palladian Villa

Other features Park and garden

Public accessVilla open everyday in April 2010, then

Sunday to Wednesday May to October

Museum Yes Tel 020 8995 0508

Exhibition Yes

Country England

Region Greater London

Address Burlington Lane

Postcode W4 2RP

RefreshmentsNew Cafe now open 2010. Tel

07825827352

Parking Yes

Shop Yes 020 8995 0508

Website EH Chiswick House

51°29′1″N 0°15′31″W 51.48361°N 0.25861°W Coordinates :

51°29′1″N 0°15′31″W 51.48361°N 0.25861°W

Lord Burlington and his sister Julia as children outside Burlington House, London

Chiswick House was inherited by Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, 4th Earl of Cork and Baron Clifford (1694–1753) on the death of his father, Charles Boyle, in 1704. The mansion was a medium sized Jacobean house and used as a summer retreat to get away from the heat of London in the same way as Marble Hill House, Strawberry Hill and Syon Park were used (the town house that the family frequented the rest of the year was Burlington House in Piccadilly, today the Royal Academy). After a fire in the old Jacobean house in 1725 it is likely that the idea of building a Villa (house in the country) at Chiswick presented itself, yet this notion may already have been present in the mind of Lord Burlington since the time of his sojourn of Italy in 1719. Lord Burlington decided to build a new building, his 'Villa' to the west of Chiswick House which would be suitable to display his large collection of art[1] and furniture, much of which was purchased on his first 'Grand Tour' of Europe in 1714.[2] As accommodation was already provided in the old Jacobean house and stable block, there was little need for bedrooms in the new annex. Known as the "Apollo of the Arts" by Horace Walpole (1717–1797) because of his great patronage, the "architect earl" designed Chiswick Villa with the aid of William Kent (1685–1748) between 1726 and 1729. William Kent (who changed his name from ‘Cant’) also took a leading role in designing the gardens,[3] which are regarded as the earliest example of the 'English Landscape Garden': a mode of garden in which many aspects were deformalised whilst fostering a vision that harked back to the gardens of antiquity and adding 'variety' within the landscape.

Richard Boyle married Lady Dorothy Savile (1699–1758) on 21 March 1720 and their happy union produced three daughters. However, all three were to die before the age of twenty four. The last surviving daughter, Charlotte Boyle, married William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire,(1720–1764) and the house, Villa and gardens passed to the Cavendish family after Lady Burlington's death in her Bedchamber at Chiswick on 21 September 1758. The Villa was then occasionally used by the family, who had numerous other residences (they inherited Bolton Abbey, Londesborough in Yorkshire, and Lismore Castle in Ireland from the Boyles), and added two wings to the Villa to increase the amount of accommodation.

The Home Secretary Herbert Morrison and other officials inspecting damage caused by the first V2 bomb to hit London in Staveley Road. 3 people were killed, 22 people were injured, 11 houses had to be demolished and more than 550 were damaged

Built in 1788 by the architect John White, these wings were designed in a sympathetic style, but inimical to the concept of the property as a compact perfectly formed Villa, and were removed by the Ministry of Works in 1952. The Villa was saved from destruction by a public campaign and petitioning from the newly created Georgian Society who recognised the Villa’s unique architectural heritage and its invaluable contribution to European architectural history.