Richard Cassels (1690 – 1751), who anglicised his name to
Richard Castle, ranks with
Edward Lovett PearceSir Edward Lovett Pearce was an Irish architect, and the chief exponent of palladianism in Ireland. He is thought to have initially studied as an architect under his father's first cousin, Sir John Vanbrugh. He is best known for the Irish Houses of Parliament in Dublin, and his work on Castletown...
as one of the greatest
architectAn architect is trained and licensed in planning and designing buildings, and participates in supervising the construction of a building. Etymologically, architect derives from the Latin architectus, itself derived from the Greek arkhitekton , i.e. chief builder...
s working in
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
in the 18th century. Cassels was born in 1690 in
KasselKassel Kassel Kassel and of the district (Kreis) of the same name...
,
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
. Although German, his family were of
FrenchFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
origin, descended from the French-Netherlandish 'Du Ry' family, famous for the many
architectAn architect is trained and licensed in planning and designing buildings, and participates in supervising the construction of a building. Etymologically, architect derives from the Latin architectus, itself derived from the Greek arkhitekton , i.e. chief builder...
s among their number. A cousin Simon du Ry designed Schloss Wilhelmshöhe in Kassel.
Early work
Richard Cassels, who originally trained as an
engineerEngineers are concerned with developing economical and safe solutions to practical problems, by applying mathematics and scientific knowledge while considering technical constraints. The term is derived from the Latin root "ingenium," meaning "cleverness"...
, came to Ireland in 1728 at the behest of Sir Gustavus Hume of
County FermanaghCounty Fermanagh – ) is one of the traditional counties of Ireland. It is located within the province of Ulster and is part of Northern Ireland. As Fermanagh is situated mostly in the basin of the River Erne, it is often referred to as Ireland's Lake District, together with neighbouring County Cavan...
to design for Hume a
mansionA mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. realtors define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
on the shores of
Lough ErneLough Erne refers to two lakes in Northern Ireland, which are in effect widened sections of the River Erne. The waterway is mostly situated in County Fermanagh. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern-most lake is further up the river and so is named...
. Hume had probably discovered Cassels working in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
where he was influenced by the circle of architects influenced by Lord Burlington. Cassels, soon after arrival in Ireland, established a thriving
architecturalFor a topical guide to this subject, see Outline of architecture. Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures for human shelter or use....
practice in
DublinDublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath ; the English name comes from the Irish Dubh Linn meaning "black pool". It is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the...
. Architecturally at the time Dublin was an exciting place to be – Edward Lovett Pearce, also newly established in the city, was working on
Castletown HouseCastletown House, Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland's finest Palladian country house, is an imposing building built in 1722 for William Conolly, the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. It formed the centrepiece of a 550 acre estate...
, the great
mansionA mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. realtors define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
of
SpeakerThe term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the powers to discipline members who break the...
William Connolly, and the new
Irish Houses of ParliamentThe Irish Houses of Parliament is the world's first purpose-built two-chamber parliament house...
simultaneously. Both of these buildings were designed in the newly-introduced Palladian style.
Palladian architecturePalladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
was currently enjoying a revival that was to sweep across Europe and be adopted with a fervour in Ireland. Cassels was well versed in the concepts of Palladio and
VitruviusMarcus Vitruvius Pollio was a Roman writer, architect and engineer , active in the 1st century BC. By his own description Vitruvius served as a Ballista , the third class of arms in the military offices...
, but was also sympathetic to the more
BaroqueBaroque is an artistic style prevalent from the late 16th century to the early 18th century. The popularity and success of the Baroque style was encouraged by the Roman Catholic Church, which had decided at the time of the Council of Trent that the arts should communicate religious themes in...
style of architecture.
In
DublinDublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath ; the English name comes from the Irish Dubh Linn meaning "black pool". It is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the...
itself, Cassels worked on the Houses of Parliament with Pearce, his
mentorIn Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcumus and, in his old age, a friend of Odysseus. When Odysseus left for the Trojan War he placed Mentor in charge of his son, Telemachus, and of his palace. When Athena visited Telemachus she took the disguise of Mentor to hide herself from the suitors...
and friend. Cassels' first solo commission was the Printing House of
Trinity CollegeTrinity College Dublin , corporately designated as the Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", and is the only constituent college of...
, designed to resemble a temple complete with a
doricThe Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of Ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian....
porticoA portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
. This portico was an interesting feature symbolizing Cassels' early work – a portico is an almost essential feature of Palladian architecture. But as Cassels' work matured he tended to merely hint at a portico by placing
pilasterA pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s supporting a
pedimentThis article is about the architectural element. For the landform, see Pediment .A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice...
as the focal point of a
facadeA facade or façade is generally one side of the exterior of a building, especially the front, but also sometimes the sides and rear. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
. Perhaps he felt the huge
ItalianItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
porticos that provided shelter from the sun were not requisite for houses in the less clement Ireland. This blind, merely suggested, portico is a feature of his final Dublin masterpiece
Leinster HouseLeinster House is the name of the building housing the national parliament of the Republic of Ireland .The term Leinster House can refer to* The former ducal palace that was the home of the Duke of Leinster, or...
built for the
Earl of KildareEarl of Kildare is a title in the Peerage of Ireland.John FitzThomas FitzGerald, the eldest son of Thomas, Lord Offaly, was created Earl of Kildare by Letters Patent by King Edward II on May 14, 1316....
between 1745 and 1751. A comparison of the Printing House and Leinster House shows the evolution from the true Palladian style to the, commonly referred,
GeorgianGeorgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the...
style in Ireland during the quarter century that Dublin was to be almost rebuilt.
The untimely death of Edward Lovett Pearce, aged 34, in 1733, made Cassels Ireland's leading architect working in the sought after Palladian style. He immediately assumed all of Pearce's commissions and thus began designing a series of lavish country houses. Following the completion of the Houses of Parliament there seemed to have been a rush by the
aristocracyAristocracy is a form of government, in which a few of the most prominent citizens rule. This may be a hereditary elite, or it may be by a system of cooption where a council of prominent citizens add leading soldiers, merchants, land owners, priests, and lawyers to their number...
to build a series of new town houses in the same style and Cassels was often the first choice for architect. This led to the creation of what came to be known as
Georgian DublinGeorgian Dublin is a phrase used in the History of Dublin that has two interwoven meanings,# to describe a historic period in the development of the city of Dublin from 1714 to the death in 1830 of King George IV...
.
For his exteriors he used a Palladian style that was distinctive for its strength and sobriety. In this he seems to have been influenced by Pearce and also
James GibbsJames Gibbs was one of Britain's most influential architects. Born in Scotland, he trained as an architect in Rome, and practised mainly in England...
. However, when it came to interiors, Cassels gave full rein to his love of the more continental Baroque. Walls were covered in
stuccoStucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a coating for walls and ceilings and for decoration...
reliefs, ceilings medallions and motifs of plaster, segmental mouldings, and carvings, in an almost
rococoRococo is a style of 18th century French art and interior design. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings...
style peculiar to Ireland.
Notable works
Some of the finest of Cassels works in order of commencement are listed below.
(
Dates often vary from one source to the other)
Trinity College, Printing House
This perfect small
doricThe Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of Ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian....
templeA temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
, was completed in 1734, and is thought to be Cassels' first major solo work. A four-columned portico of doric columns projected from the rusticated severe building and the entirety is only the width of the portico. (
This building is sometimes attributed to Edward Lovett Pearce).
Carton HouseCarton House is one of Ireland's greatest stately homes and one time ancestral seat of the Earls of Kildare and Dukes of Leinster. Located 14 miles west of Dublin, in Maynooth, County Kildare, the Carton demesne runs to 1,100 acres . For two hundred years it possessed the finest example in Ireland...
(1739)
Cassels made large alterations to the Carton house in
County KildareCounty Kildare is one of the traditional counties of Ireland. It is located within the province of Leinster and was named after the town of Kildare . Kildare is the 25th largest of Ireland’s 32 counties in area and ninth largest in terms of population...
between 1739 and 1745 for the
Earl of KildareEarl of Kildare is a title in the Peerage of Ireland.John FitzThomas FitzGerald, the eldest son of Thomas, Lord Offaly, was created Earl of Kildare by Letters Patent by King Edward II on May 14, 1316....
. The resultant facades were in his usual restrained and symmetrical style. The great garden facade is terminated by Venetian windows at each end, while in the centre, a single storey portico is so unostentatious as to be almost a
porchA porch is a structure attached to a building, forming a covered entrance to a vestibule or doorway. It is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various...
. The roof-line is hidden by a balustrade, broken by an unsupported pediment over the central bay. The interiors are a riot of plaster-work ornamentation. The
Lafranchini brothersThe Lafranchini brothers, originally from Switzerland, are famed today for their work in rococo style stucco, chiefly in the great palladian houses of Ireland....
, famous for their plaster-work, executed some of their finest work here, and would work again with Cassels at Russborough.
Russborough HouseRussborough House is a stately house situated near the Blessington Lakes in County Wicklow, Ireland, between the towns of Blessington and Ballymore Eustace and is reputed to be the longest house in Ireland, with a frontage measuring 210 m/700 ft...
(1742)
Russborough was designed by Cassels for
Joseph Leeson, 1st Earl of MilltownJoseph Leeson, 1st Earl of Milltown was an Irish peer and politician.-Background and career:He was the son of Joseph Leeson, who was a brewer in Dublin, and Mary Brice, daughter of Alderman Andrew Brice, Sheriff of Dublin...
. It was built between 1741 and 1755. A central block containing the principal rooms is flanked by curved and segmented colonnades leading to two symmetrical service blocks. The main entrance, at the centre of one of Cassels's trademark 'suggested' porticoes, is on a raised
piano nobileThe piano nobile is the principal floor of a large house, usually built in one of the styles of classical renaissance architecture...
. It is reached by a broad flight of steps. The principal feature of the interiors are the
rococoRococo is a style of 18th century French art and interior design. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings...
plaster-work and the ceilings, again by the master stuccoists Paul and Philip Lanfrachini; and ornate carved
marbleMarble is a non foliated metamorphic rock resulting from the metamorphism of limestone, composed mostly of calcite . It is extensively used for sculpture, as a building material, and in many other applications...
fireplaces, all contrasting with the austerity of the exterior.
Summerhill
This vast palladian mansion in County Meath was originally designed by Pearce, who died before the project was commenced. Cassels took over the project and was responsible for the rococo interiors. The building was damaged by fire in the 1920s and finally demolished in the 1950s.
Powerscourt House (1741)
Powerscourt House, Wicklow
This large country house, originally a 13th century castle, was completely rebuilt by Cassels - starting in 1730 and finishing in 1741. The demesne was approximately . The three-story house had at least 68 rooms. The entrance hall was long and wide where family heirlooms were displayed. The main reception rooms were on the first floor rather than more typically on the ground floor. King George IV was the guest of Richard Wingfield, 5th Viscount Powerscourt in August 1821. .
Mervyn Wingfield, 7th Viscount PowerscourtMervyn Wingfield, 7th Viscount Powerscourt KP PC was an Irish peer. He became Viscount Powerscourt in 1844 on the death of his father Richard Wingfield, 6th Viscount Powerscourt....
inherited the title and the Powerscourt estate, which comprised of land in Ireland, at the age of 8 in 1844. When he reached the age of 21 he embarked on an extensive reonovation of the house and created new gardens. Inspiration for the garden design followed visits by Powerscourt to ornamental gardens at the
Palace of VersaillesThe Palace of Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles, the Île-de-France region of France. In French, it is known as the Château de Versailles....
,
Schönbrunn PalaceSchönbrunn Palace is a former imperial summer residence in Vienna, Austria. One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, since the 1960s it has been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna...
,
ViennaVienna is the capital of the Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre. It is the 10th largest city by...
and
SchwetzingenSchwetzingen is a German town situated in the northwest of Baden-Württemberg, around 10 km southwest of Heidelberg and 15 km southeast of Mannheim....
Palace near
HeidelbergHeidelberg is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. As of 2008, over 145,000 people live within the city's area. Heidelberg is a unitary authority...
. The garden development took 20 years to complete in 1880. On a commanding hilltop position Cassels deviated slightly from his usual sombre style, to give the house something of what
John VanbrughSir John Vanbrugh was an English architect and dramatist, perhaps best known as the designer of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard...
would have called the 'castle air' - a severe palladian facade terminated by two circular
domeA dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
d
towerTowers are tall structures that are almost always taller than they are wide, usually by a significant margin. Towers are generally built to take advantage of their height, and can stand alone or as part of a larger structure.- History :...
s. The house was destroyed by fire in 1974 when it was owned by the
SlazengerSlazenger is a British sports equipment brand name sold throughout the world, involving a variety of sporting categories. Established in 1881 it can trace its roots to 1810 and today is one of the oldest surviving sporting brand names.- History :...
family and renovated in 1996. In the 1830s, the house was the venue for a number of conferences on unfulfilled Bible prophecies, which were attended by men such as
John Nelson DarbyJohn Nelson Darby was an Anglo-Irish evangelist, and an influential figure among the original Plymouth Brethren. He is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism. He produced a translation of the Bible based on the Hebrew and Greek texts called The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation...
and
Edward IrvingEdward Irving was a Scottish clergyman, generally regarded as the main figure behind the foundation of the Catholic Apostolic Church.-Youth:Edward Irving was born at Annan, Annandale...
. These conferences were held under the auspices of Theodosia Wingfield Powerscourt, then the widow Lady Powerscourt.
Powerscourt House, Dublin
Obviously pleased by Cassel's work at their country seat in Wicklow, the 3rd Viscount Powerscourt commissioned Cassels to design his Dublin town house in William Street. Built on three principal floors above a sunken
basementA basement is one or more floors of a building that are either completely or partially below the ground floor. Shallow foundation buildings do not have basements...
, it is unusual for its series of curved topped windows on the ground floor, with the more traditional rectangular pedimented windows on the floor above. The front elevation of nine bays has a Venetian window above the main entrance as its central feature. The facade is devoid of pilasters, having only rusticated cornerstones as decoration. A pediment crowns the central projection. The interiors, as at Russborough and elsewhere, were again in the rococo style, contrasting with the exterior.
Tyrone House (1740)
Cassels designed this Dublin town house for Marcus Beresford,
Earl of TyroneThe Earl of Tyrone is an Irish peerage title created several times.It was created first in 1542 for The O'Neill Mór, King of Tir Eoghan, Conn Bacach O'Neill, who submitted to the English king Henry VIII and was rewarded with the title of Earl with the subsidiary title of Baron of Dungannon...
, in Marlborough Street between 1740 and 1745. Smaller than
PowerscourtPowerscourt may refer to:*Viscount Powerscourt, title in the Irish peerage*Powerscourt Estate, County Wicklow, Ireland**Powerscourt Golf Club, on the estate*Powerscourt Waterfall, the highest waterfall in Ireland, near the estate...
House it is said to be the first substantial
aristocratThe aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in society, who traditionally have land, money, and power. They are often members of a hereditary nobility that derives its stature from a lineage traceable to the original inhabitants or rulers of a region...
ic house to be built in the north of the city. It is fine example of Cassels' robust sober style. The central Venetian window above the principal entrance is the sole example of decoration or flamboyance to this dramatically severe facade.
Leinster HouseLeinster House is the name of the building housing the national parliament of the Republic of Ireland .The term Leinster House can refer to* The former ducal palace that was the home of the Duke of Leinster, or...
(1745)
The house was originally known as
KildareKildare is a town in County Kildare, Ireland. Its population of 7,538 makes it the seventh largest town in Kildare and the 55th largest in the Republic of Ireland, with a growth rate of 32.4pc since the 2002 census...
House after James Fitzgerald, the
Earl of KildareEarl of Kildare is a title in the Peerage of Ireland.John FitzThomas FitzGerald, the eldest son of Thomas, Lord Offaly, was created Earl of Kildare by Letters Patent by King Edward II on May 14, 1316....
, who commissioned Cassels to build it between 1745 and 1747. Intended to be Dublin's grandest mansion, the result could not have disappointed Kildare. It is said that another Irish architect,
James HobanJames Hoban was an Irish architect, best known for designing the White House in Washington, D.C..-Life:James Hoban was born in Desart, near Callan, County Kilkenny, Ireland. Hoban was raised on the estate of the Earl of Desart at Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny where he learned carpentry skills...
, later copied the facade of Leinster house for his design of the
White HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style and has been the residence of every...
in
WashingtonWashington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790...
(although Castlecoole designed by
James WyattJames Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
bears a closer resemblance).
Rotunda HospitalThe Rotunda Hospital is one of the three main maternity hospitals in the city of Dublin, the others being The Coombe and Holles Street...
(1757)
Originally the main maternity
hospitalA hospital is an institution for health care providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment, and often but not always providing for longer-term patient stays....
for Dublin, it was redesigned by Cassels who transformed it into a palladian palace, complete with a
rotundaA rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, often covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
which gives the hospital its name.
Legacy to Ireland
Richard Cassels died in 1751. His legacy is that he gave Ireland a distinctive type of palladianism all of its own, which to be fully appreciated one has to regard the buildings simultaneously externally and internally, the restrained, even severe, but nevertheless grand external facades, which do not jar the eye in the Irish landscape, give no hint of the flamboyance, even wild rococo exuberance within. This is found almost nowhere else in Europe, the cold grandeur of England's finest palladian mansions such as
Kedleston HallKedleston Hall is an English country house in Kedleston, Derbyshire, approximately four miles north-west of Derby, and is the seat of the Curzon family whose name originates in Notre-Dame-de-Courson in Normandy...
or
Holkham HallHolkham Hall is an eighteenth-century country house located adjacent to the village of Holkham, on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk...
could not be further removed from the joy and movement of the interiors of one of Richard Cassels's Irish Palladian interiors.
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