Apethorpe
The Story of an English Country House
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Yale University Press
Published:10th May '16
Should be back in stock very soon
This beautiful publication narrates the romantic biography of an architecturally significant country residence and its rescue from decline. Dating from the mid-15th century, Apethorpe in Northamptonshire was home to a succession of leading courtiers and politicians. At the command of King James I, the house was refurbished with a richly decorated state apartment. The suite, with its series of rare plaster ceilings and carved chimneypieces, unquestionably ranks as one of the finest—and least known—in Britain. In 2004, English Heritage rescued the house from ruin and has since restored it to much of its glory.
This book places Apethorpe in its wider historical and architectural context, comparing it with other Tudor and Jacobean houses. It sheds new light on the furnishing, decoration, and circulation patterns of state suites in country homes. Written by architectural and archeological experts from Historic England, this monograph, the first on Apethorpe, is illustrated with new and historical photographs, paintings, maps, engravings, and specially commissioned interpretive drawings that reveal how the house looked at key moments in its history.
Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art
"The contexts and parallels offered are valid and illuminating and will add to Apethorpe’s usefulness as a source of comparative material for other studies."—Nicholas Cooper, Transactions
‘[a] superb publication’ — Christopher Ridgeway, The Burlington Magazine
“This book is thoroughly researched, as shown in the care taken in the writing and compilation of the text. Readers with a variety of interests from family and genealogical to architectural and art historical will find it to be exceptional. Ultimately, Apethorpe The Story of an English Country House would be a treasure to add to any library.” —Audrey M Thorstad, The Antiquaries Journal
‘Apethorpe is a magical place and this handsome, lavishly illustrated architectural biography captures the romantic quality of the story … It is a comprehensive and beautiful publication, worthy of the monumental subject.’ - Rose Dahlsen, House & Garden
-- Rose Dahlsen * House & Garden *
“Properly coherent and readable… this is perhaps the most complete analysis of a country house published in the past 25 years.”—John Goddall, Country Life -- John Goodall * Country Life *
"The contexts and parallels offered are valid and illuminating and will add to Apethorpe’s usefulness as a source of comparative material for other studies."—Nicholas Cooper, Transactions -- Nicholas Cooper * Transactions *
ISBN: 9780300148701
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 2631g
500 pages