Overview

This is the first book on the history of the virtually unknown phenomenon of the importation of Continental church furniture into England since the early 19th century. The taste for this furniture was fueled by the Romantic medievalizing enthusiasm of Augustus Welby Pugin and the Catholic Revival, as well as the eccentric whims of the Anglican Squiresons. It was clandestinely acquired mainly from France and the Low Countries by English antique dealers and other enterprising agents, including architects and the aristocracy, as a result of the catastrophic upheavals of the French Revolution. The setting for this nostalgic explosion is described, as well as an account of some of the more unusual patronage, and the story is pursued into the 20th century. 21 colour & 399 b/w illustrations

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9781851493760

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This great wealth of works of art is scattered all over the country, adding enormously to the beauty and interest of our churches. This book alerts readers to their existence and invites them to go and admire them. - The Tablet Now that it has been published and is available for review it must be mentioned again as a quite outstanding contribution to ecclesiological studies - Ancient Monument Society

"""This great wealth of works of art is scattered all over the country, adding enormously to the beauty and interest of our churches. This book alerts readers to their existence and invites them to go and admire them."" - The Tablet ""Now that it has been published and is available for review it must be mentioned again as a quite outstanding contribution to ecclesiological studies"" - Ancient Monument Society"

Author Information

Charles Tracy completed his Ph.D. thesis at the Courtauld Institute on English Gothic choir-stalls. Since then he has extensively researched the largely ignored subject of English medieval church furniture and woodwork. He is the author of the two volume study, English Gothic Choir-Stalls, 1200-1540, and the Catalogue of English Medieval Furniture and Woodwork for the V & A Museum. In addition he has published many articles in learned journals on related topics, from the Watching Chamber at St. Alban's Cathedral to the early 14th century painted screen at Kingston Lacy, Dorset. His interest in Continental church furniture of all periods goes back over ten years and he has made a particular study of the material in Belgium and France.

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