frieze above entrance to Ickworth House
A stucco frieze runs around the exterior of the Rotunda at Ickworth House, Suffolk. It depicts scenes from the ancient Olympic Games and was designed by Lady Caroline Wharncliffe, grand-daughter of the 4th Earl of Bristol who commissioned the house at the end of the 18th century.
Ickworth has belonged to the Hervey family since the 15th century but the Italianate Georgian building seen today dates to the end of the 18th century when Frederick Augustus Hervey, the 4th Earl of Bristol decided to build a home fit to display his enormous art collection.
Based on the vision of Italian architect Mario Asprucci, he commissioned brothers Francis and Joseph Sandys to create a neoclassical showpiece: the Rotunda. Building began in 1795 but was halted on the 4th Earl’s death in 1803. It stood unfinished for decades, only being completed in 1842 by the 5th Earl (who became the 1st Marquess). The East wing was built in the 1820s while the West wing was added in the 1840s.
frieze above entrance to Ickworth House
A stucco frieze runs around the exterior of the Rotunda at Ickworth House, Suffolk. It depicts scenes from the ancient Olympic Games and was designed by Lady Caroline Wharncliffe, grand-daughter of the 4th Earl of Bristol who commissioned the house at the end of the 18th century.
Ickworth has belonged to the Hervey family since the 15th century but the Italianate Georgian building seen today dates to the end of the 18th century when Frederick Augustus Hervey, the 4th Earl of Bristol decided to build a home fit to display his enormous art collection.
Based on the vision of Italian architect Mario Asprucci, he commissioned brothers Francis and Joseph Sandys to create a neoclassical showpiece: the Rotunda. Building began in 1795 but was halted on the 4th Earl’s death in 1803. It stood unfinished for decades, only being completed in 1842 by the 5th Earl (who became the 1st Marquess). The East wing was built in the 1820s while the West wing was added in the 1840s.