Label Text:
Although this painting appears to depict a Romantic view of an ancient medieval site, Fonthill Abbey (Wiltshire) was built by James Wyatt as a Gothic Revival “fairy tale palace” for the eccentric William Beckford, Jr. (1760 – 1844), who derived his vast family fortune from sugar plantations in Jamaica. Beckford became notorious for his liaison with the adolescent William Courtenay, which wrecked his public career. After extensive travels, he returned to England in 1796 to build a grand residence on the family estate ringed by seven miles of 12-foot high wall and guard towers for privacy. Although it was filled with a renowned library and art collection, Beckford forbade any visitors to Fonthill except a close circle of friends and architects, who labored for over 20 years. In 1822, he sold its contents and in 1825 the central tower collapsed from its own excess.
Robert Gibb painted this view from a pre-1825 engraving, but has added the tiny figure of Beckford in the foreground.
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https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=AC+1953.62 |
