Hope's garland : on a letter addressed to Francis Annesley Esqr. M.P. by Thomas Hope Esqr.
Published / Created:
Great Britain, 1804?
Physical Description:
1 v. (8 p.) ; 24 cm.
Collection:
Rare Books and Manuscripts
Copyright Status:
Copyright Not Evaluated
Classification:
Archives & Manuscripts
Notes:
In 1804, Thomas Hope authored Observations on the plans and elevations designed by James Wyatt, architect, for Downing College, Cambridge, in which Hope was highly critical of the Roman Doric designs submitted by Wyatt (then president of the Royal Academy). In the same pamphlet, Hope declared his preference for the neo-Greek designs (with less unnecessary ornament) submitted by William Wilkins. Wilkins' designs were ultimately the winning submission. In defense of their president, Royal Academicians excluded Hope from their dinner of 28 April 1804. One Academy member, Henry Tresham, using the soubriquet "Diagonetto", issued a single sheet ballad in six verses entitled "Hope's Garland", ridiculing Hope's pretensions as a connoisseur of architecture. Tresham then distributed the lampoon to Royal Academicians on the day of the dinner. Tresham's attack on Hope embarrassed the Academy, who did not want to so offend a wealthy and important patron of the arts. Wyatt and Joseph Farington later formally apologized to Hope. Cf. Holger Hoock. "From Beefsteak to Turtle: Artists' Dinner Culture in Eighteenth-Century London." The Huntington Library Quarterly, v. 66, no. 1/2 (2003): 27-54.
Subject Terms:
Tresham, Henry, 1749?-1814. | Hope, Thomas, 1769-1831. | Hope, Thomas, 1770?-1831. Observations on the plans and elevations designed by James Wyatt, architect, for Downing College, Cambridge. | Wyatt, James, 1746-1813. | Annesley, Francis, active 1744. | Downing College (University of Cambridge) -- Buildings. | University of Cambridge -- Buildings. | Architecture -- England -- Cambridge. | Cambridge (England) -- Building, structures, etc.