Comments on: Upward thrust at Beningbrough

By: Emile de Bruijn

Emile de Bruijn — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:22:37 +0000

Columnist, I just had to look up the article on Dumfries House in the February 2012 issue of Architectural Digest As you say I think the blue bed in the Family Bedroom there is less tall than the ones at Beningbrough, and it also seems to be more Rococo in style, which makes sense given its c. 1760 date. But very interesting that the concept of the ‘state’ or ‘show-off’ bed was still going strong.

By: Columnist

Columnist — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:09:53 +0000

I am really impressed with the Hall, (which I suppose was the point of it). Stunning. The bed(s) are very similar to the Adam bed at Dumfries House, (in Blue), but unless the photographs are deceptive, a slightly elongated version.

By: Emile de Bruijn

Emile de Bruijn — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:04:25 +0000

Thanks very much Courtney. It is amazing how some of those early memories of seeing something for the first time stay with you, isn’t it?

By: style court

style court — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:03:15 +0000

I love this post, too, Emile. Seeing the beds photographed from the less expected vantage point transports me back to school, sitting in a darkened art history class and gazing up at enormous slides of baroque sculpture (architecture as well) from a similar angle.

And Robert, your BR association is spot on.

By: Emile de Bruijn

Emile de Bruijn — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:13:52 +0000

Not nonsensical at all: Waugh just picked up on the theatricality and grandeur of a state bed in his novel, as a fitting setting for the end of Lord Marchmain’s life, and the 1981 Granada TV series visualised that beautfully: the estate carpenters gingerly carrying the various bits of the bed down the grand staircase, the shrunken figure in the middle of all that ancient upholstery and fabric, the baroque theatricality of the bed echoing the Catholic faith which Lord Marchmain is somehow drawn back to.

Very glad you liked the post

By: robert

robert — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:54:39 +0000

I know this is rather nonsensical but this posting, yet another marvelous post of yours Emile, rather recalls the passages from ‘Brideshead Revisited’ of the return of Lord Marchmain to Brideshead after an absence of several decades, and creating quite a fuss by having the state bed dismantled and brought downstairs to the Chinese Room. Such a marvelous visual. As always Emile, your posts are brilliant and so I thank you.