Although Chippendale was the first of the great Georgian Cabinetmakers, he was quickly followed by other famous figures, among whom are the brothers Robert and James Adam. Robert Adam was born in 1728. He studied architecture in Italy and also explored the uncovered ruins of the Roman Empire. These created his interest in the classical designs brought about by the discovery of these ancient ruins. He became the leader of the Classical Revival - England's neo classical period. Upon his return to London he published a book dedicated to King George III. This book contains paintings, plans and explanations of these Roman ruins. He drew inspiration for his own work from Roman, Greek and Etruscan designs. He was such a distinguished architect that he was appointed architect to the king. He was replaced by his brother James when he resigned from his post. They were good businessmen as well and together they ventured into buildings and real estate that brought them both wealth and fame. They achieved a total revolution in furniture design. They advocated lightness and grace in furniture design. They eliminated the bulky designs of the previous periods. They replaced the ornate curvature of the Chippendale designs with the straight lines of Roman columns. Although the style of the Brothers Adam is similar to the neoclassical style of Louis XVI, both styles evolved independently from each other. Both styles were influenced heavily by the excavation of the Roman ruins. The following are the characteristics very identifiable to the Adam design. 1. The legs are straight and fluted like the Roman columns. Unlike its French counterpart, it doesn't have the square box with carved rosette at the top of the legs, which makes it easily distinguishable from the neoclassical design of Louis XVI. It is far more delicate that the French design. 2. The chair back usually has the classical motif like the shape of a Greek lyre. Other typical Adam chair back designs are the delicate open "Spokes" design and the Shield shape design. 3. The use of classical motifs that later became the standard for many English designs that followed. These motifs are used everywhere not just in furniture. These are also applied in fireplace mantels, walls and ceilings. They are often painted in casepieces aside from being defined in relief where the motifs are usually vases and urns. Robert and James Adam were both architects and their greatest achievement was designing rooms not just furniture. They were the first to come up with the concept of designing entire rooms not just a part of it and not just one or two pieces of furniture. Unlike other architects of their time, they did not only design the shape of the room but rather they get into the details. They designed the walls, ceiling, floors, doors and windows and oversaw the placement of every piece of furniture in the room. The Brothers Adam marked the beginning of a whole new style in English furniture and Architecture. |
