ICAA
travel programs provide participants with numerous benefits,
including access to some of the world’s most remarkable buildings
and landscapes, as well as fellowship with other travellers who are
passionate about classicism. In June, I had the pleasure of hosting
the ICAA’s Great Houses & Gardens of Scotland tour. Based in
Edinburgh – the “Athens of the North” – my guests and I
experienced nothing less than Scottish Enlightenment as we
encountered some of Scotland’s most magnificent private homes and
their hospitable owners.
I
truly believe that learning is most enjoyable when one experiences
architecture and art first-hand. Books, websites, and other media
have made education in the 21st Century
more accessible than ever – but they can only reveal so much about
a building or a work of fine art. Hearing the history of great
Palladian houses from their owners, as well as scholars of
18th Century
Scottish architecture, was tremendously valuable for guests on our
“Grand Tour” of Scotland.
We
were reminded throughout our journey that no one had more influence
on classical architecture in Scotland than the Adam family. Many
admirers of classicism are familiar with the work of Robert Adam, but
we all developed a deeper appreciation for Robert’s father,
William, and his brothers, James and John, who also had a lasting
impact on Scottish architecture.
As
a reaction to the Baroque period, the Adam brothers introduced to
Scotland a neo-Palladian architectural style that incorporated Roman,
Greek and Etruscan motifs from antiquity, which they experienced
during their many years on the Grand Tour. We credit the Adam family
with an architectural approach that unified the building’s exterior
with its interior design, as well as the surrounding landscapes.
Relishing
in our own Grand Tour of Scotland, our group of over twenty ICAA
supporters had the opportunity to meet descendants of the Adam
family. We viewed personal archives, drawings and even original
watercolors by Robert Adam – never before seen by the public.
The
Adam family’s influence extended beyond Scotland to more distant
shores – especially Russia and Ireland – and was a driving force
behind America’s Federal period. (It is no wonder that nearly all
my favorite homes are in these countries!) The
Works in Architecture of Robert and James Adam,
a book authored by the Adam brothers themselves, illustrates the full
range of their design styles – from small villas and medium-sized
houses for the gentry, to the grand palatial homes (such as Hopetoun
House) designed for the noble elite.
One
of the many highlights of our Scottish Grand Tour was a private
excursion to Dumfries House, which included a visit to the house’s
recently restored library. Dumfries was built by Robert and John Adam
in the 1750s for William Dalrymple, 5th Earl
of Dumfries. However, it was His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the
Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, who recently led a fundraising crusade
to restore the house and maintain its collection of antique
treasures.
The contents of the
house – including a large set of original Chippendale furniture –
were in transit to London for auction when Prince Charles, through
his vision and leadership,
secured a $40 million loan from one of his foundations, in addition
to $50 million from other sources, to prevent the sale and return the
property to Dumfries.
Thanks to HRH Prince Charles and many other
generous supporters, Dumfries has since been restored to its original
glory. Most importantly, Dumfries has helped to revitalize the local
economy through numerous employment opportunities and serves as a
critical center of education for the public. We at the ICAA are
excited to be working with the Prince’s Foundation on future joint
educational programming opportunities, uniting in our shared vision
of promoting traditional principles and sustainable building
practices in our communities.
Another cherished experience on the
tour was meeting the Duke and Duchess of Fife – Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II’s cousins – for lunch in their portrait-lined dining
room. From this experience, we learned so much about Scottish
history, such as the Jacobite rebellions of the 17th and
18th Centuries.
In
fact, we discovered a great deal about architecture and Scottish
history not only from the private houses we visited (such as Kinross
House), but also from our fellow travellers, including several
renowned architects and designers.
Our
tour of the Great Houses & Gardens of Scotland would not have
been possible without the expert planning of Lani Summerville
of Classical
Excursions,
as well as Mark Donnelly, who helped to provide access to many of the
private homes we visited.
On
his decision to restore Dumfries House, Prince
Charles said:
“I hoped that present and future generations would be able to visit
and enjoy the different facets of the life and times of a bygone era
and to appreciate British craftsmanship at its best.” Dumfries and
its architectural counterparts stand before us today not as relics of
the past but as symbols of timelessness and endurance in a world that
is ever more fleeting. Intellectually and architecturally
enlightened, my guests and I left Scotland more aware of this truth
than ever before.
