Regency Design 1790-1840 [Hardcover]

John Morley (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

England's Regency style, exemplified by Windsor Castle's sumptuous interiors and the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, an exotic amalgam of Chinese, Indian and neoclassical motifs, reached its peak of hedonistic refinement during the reign of George IV (1811-1830). In this thorough, lavishly illustrated study, Morley, a former keeper at the Victoria and Albert Museum, presents Regency as an enchanting, if autumnal, style, a humane haven from the encroaching uglification of the Industrial Revolution. From simple cottages to soothing gardens to neo-Gothic castles, Regnecy evolved in a dizzying succession of design modes: Etruscan, Pompeian, "archeological," rococo, antiquarian and so forth. Morley clearly differentiates these often intertwined styles, aided by hundreds of reproductions of prints, watercolors, engravings, paintings and plans. Fragmented modern people may well envy the sense of luxuriant calm and order emanating from these appealing Regency buildings, interiors and landscapes.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

While the British Regency lasted only from 1811 to 1820, the Regency style developed over half a century. The author identifies thematic influences on gardens, buildings, interior decoration, and furniture that characterized the fashion choices of both the upper and the emerging commercial middle class. Among these influences, Morley highlights the arts of Greece and Rome, the grandeur of medieval cathedrals, the mystery of the Orient, as well as late 18th-century aesthetic theories. He chronicles a time when enthusiastic new combinations of old forms ended in sometimes gracious, sometimes outrageous results. While spanning the entire "growth, maturity, and decadence of a distinct style," Morley paints a broad canvas with an elegant brush, dipping here into primary sources, there into original plans and illustrations. Lavish and stylish in keeping with its subject matter, this is an excellent survey of the artistic, intellectual, and social relationships that shaped a generation. Recommended for all art libraries and larger general collections.
- Paula Frosch, Metropolitan Museum of Art Lib., New York
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 473 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; First Edition edition (May 10, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810937689
• ISBN-13: 978-0810937680
• Product Dimensions: 14.4 x 11 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,334,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Regency Design, September 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Regency Design 1790-1840 (Hardcover)

John Morley's Regency Design offers a wealth of information for anyone seeking an indepth resource on the Regency Style. The organization of the information makes it easy for the reader to follow and locate specific areas of interests. Parks, Gardens, Exterior Architecture, Interior Design and Furniture are all included with generous amount of illustrations. Morley's Regency Style is now in my company's design library as the recommended sourch for Regency Style research. I highly recommend this book for design professionals, instructors and anyone interested in the study of classical styles.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lush, gorgeous feast of colour and beauty as only the Regency could provide, September 17, 2005

By 

A. Woodley "Patroness, Janeites, the Austen list" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Regency Design 1790-1840 (Hardcover)

All my congratulations to John Morley - he has provided an enormous volume - full of lush illustrations, good background information and a great browsing volume of Regency Design

Following what is popularly known as teh extended regency, or late Georgian period John Morley uses the period of 1790-1840 which covers the end of George III's reign (and the regency period of 1811-1820), the reign of King George IV, William IV and first few years of Victoria. This early part of the century is the start of the great industrial years, the increasing population in Britain, and increasing wealth.

What I loved best about this book is its easy reference. It is divded into four sections, Parks and Gardens, Exterior Architecture, interior decoration, and Furniture. Within each section looking at the formative incluences, styles, and how they manifested.

Each chapter has good explanatory commentary, and is well illustrated. The only other book I can really compare this to is one I have read by Steven Parrisen which also done excellent works on Regency architecture. This book covers a great deal more in one volume which I felt allowed a broader depth of understanding of the style. It would be really nice to include two other sections (I think) one of food, and one of clothing. I daresay to do that there would be a great deal more to have to add as well and this book would need to double in size.

Nice reference book, good for browsing through too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary reference and eye candy, August 3, 2008

By 

hungry (rochester, ny) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Regency Design 1790-1840 (Hardcover)

This is the top design book I own.

The layout makes the most of the book's large (11" x 14") format. There are many full-page illustrations, and other illustrations are generously sized. Many are breathtaking. The book is just chock-full of large, brilliant illustrations.

The text in this book is easy to read - other reference books seem meant for academics. It is incredibly thorough and interesting.

I ordered a used copy of this book, and it was still close to $200 - I think this is the most expensive book I own. But the cost was well worth it in terms of enjoyment and design ideas (for an amateur interested in design history).