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| The House - An overview |
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The House is a Picture, 'tis all Beauty; the Stone is white and fine,
the Order regular, the Contrivance elegant, the workmanship exquisite.
Dryden's Lines, intended for a Compliment on his Friend's Poetry,
and quoted before, are literally of the House of Kinross.
'Strong Dorick Columns
form the Base
Corinthian fills the
upper Space
So all below is Strength,
and all above is Grace'
Daniel Defoe 'Tour through Great Britain' Volume
II |
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Sir William Bruce is considered to be the first classical architect
in Scotland. Daniel Defoe described him as the Sir Christopher
Wren of North Britain whilst others see him as the 'Scottish
Indigo Jones'. He was well read and well travelled, a gentleman
scholar rather than a jobbing mason. His designs show a considerable
understanding of Italian Renaissance designs with James Macaulay,
in his book 'The Classical Country House in Scotland', suggesting
that Bruce was influenced by the architecture of Serlio, Le
Muet, Freart and, most particularly, Andrea Palladio (1508-1580).
It is also clear that Bruce drew inspiration from contemporary
English and Dutch ideas on architecture which he would have
picked up on his travels. |
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Anne Buchanan reckons that "At Kinross, Bruce achieved his
most carefully crafted synthesis of planning, architecture and
landscape. It is a product of his mature years and represents
his most considered style, unimpeded by the restrictions of
a patron. There are no hurried judgements at Kinross, no aesthetic
doubts but instead sober decisions with every line, stone and
detail coming from inner contemplation and a calculating eye."
James Macaulay in his book goes on to state that "Bruce must
have considered Kinross to be his last testimony, the summary
of what he valued most in architecture." Mark Girouard has
described Kinross House as "...a lonely masterpiece, not
like anything that came before or after ...essentially an individual
Scottish creation, a kind of sobered-up baroque palace."
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