William Kent: Designing Georgian Britain

Opulent exhibition at the V&A looking at the life and career of the Georgian designer William Kent.

This was a beautifully displayed show with the falls in dark Georgian colours but the section dividers in white glass etched with sketches by Kent though which there was a lovely vista to a chandelier.

Kent began as a painter but also became an architect and designer for the stage and of gardens as well as being the first British designer to tackle a whole interior. There was a lot about the work which came out of his friendship with Richard Bogle, 3rd Earl of Burlingotn and his friends Alexander Pope, Handel and John Gay which gave a wonderful picture of society and life at the time.

I loved the section on the work he did for the Royal family including a barge for Prince Frederick and a Palace which wasn’t built for Richmond. I also didn’t know he designed much of Horse Guards Parade so I can’t wait to go and have another look at it.
   
The section on gardens was really nice and set up in such a way that when I was there two ladies had settled themselves in opposite the screen to have a good chat, just as you would do in a National Trust garden!

All in all a lovely exhibition and a nice addition to the current celebrations of 300 years since the accession of George I.

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