Ambrose Poynter
Ambrose Poynter(16 May 1796 – 20 November 1886) was aBritish architect.He was one of the founding members of theInstitute of British Architectsin 1834.
Early life[edit]
Born in London on 16 May 1796, he was second son of Ambrose Lyon Poynter by Thomasine Anne Peck; the family was ofHuguenotorigin.[1]Poynter was employed byJohn Nashfrom 1814 to 1818. In 1819–21, he travelled to Italy, Sicily, and theIonian islands.He was present atJohn Keats's funeral in Rome on 26 February 1821.[1]
Architectural practice[edit]
Poynter set up for himself as an architect in London, initially at 1Poets' Corner,Westminster. About 1846 he built for himself a house and offices in Park Street, nowQueen Anne's Gate,also in Westminster.[2]He became noted for hisPalladianandTudor Gothicfusion architecture including the relocatedHospital and Chapel of St Katharine,Regent's Park,London in 1826–7, and St Katharine's Lodge (its later name) for its Master,Herbert Taylor,along withChrist Church, Broadway(1841-1844).[2][3]
Poynter designed a trio of churches inCambridge,notable bright red brick buildings: Christ Church,Newmarket Roadin 1837–39; the Church ofSt Andrew the GreatonSt Andrew's Roadin 1842–43, and St Paul's onHills Roadin 1841.[2]St Paul's was the target of criticism from theCambridge Camden Society,in the first issue (November 1841) of its journal, theEcclesiologist.While some of the society's members found the attack embarrassing, it was supported byAugustus Pugin.[4]The issue was withdrawn, but an offer then to review another of the Poynter churches was not conciliatory, with St Paul's being called a "cheap church"; in 1843 the Church of St Andrew was called "miserable and meagre".[5]
In 1851, Poynter was hired by SirStafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleighto make additions toPynes HousenearExeter,Devon, including a ceremonial entrance hall in 1852.[6]He also made additions toWarwick CastleandCrewe Hall.[2]
Artist and illustrator[edit]
Poynter lived in Paris between 1830 and 1832, where Lavinia Forster (his mother-in-law from 1832) provided a social centre for artists. They includedWilliam CallowandRichard Parkes Bonington,as well as the sculptorHenri de Triquetiwho had married another daughter. Poynter sketched with, and studied watercolour painting under,Thomas Shotter Boys,who was a lifelong friend.[1][2][7]He was an architectural draughtsman, and provided illustrations and articles inCharles Knight'sPictorial History of England(1837–44), and his edition of Shakespeare. He was a member of theArundel Societyand theGraphic Society.[2][8]A student also ofheraldry,he made drawings to illustrateFrancis Sandford'sGenealogical History of England.[1]
Later life[edit]
In the mid-1840s, while serving in the capacity of the Official Referee of Metropolitan buildings, Poynter became Professor of Fine Arts atKing's College London.[9]From 1845–8, he was an inspector of the design schools but was criticised for his often contradictory reports.[2]He served as secretary of the Institute of British Architects in 1840, 1841, and 1844, and also as its vice-president.[10]
In 1858, Poynter developed an eye affection which led to his total blindness, and some of his commissions were taken over byWilliam Burges.[2][10]He died at his home in 3 Marine Place, Dover on 20 November 1886 and was reportedly buried inKensal Green,London.[2]
Personal life[edit]
Poynter married Emma Forster (1800–1848), a granddaughter of the sculptor,Thomas Banks.Their daughterClara Bell(1834–1927) was a noted translator. Their son, SirEdward John Poynter(1836–1919), an artist, marriedAgnes MacDonald,sister toGeorgiana Burne-JonesandAlice Kipling;Edward and Agnes's son SirAmbrose Macdonald Poynter(1867–1923) was a calligrapher and architect.
Poynter married secondly in 1850.[10][11]
References[edit]
- ^abcdLee, Sidney,ed. (1896)..Dictionary of National Biography.Vol. 46. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^abcdefghiBradley, Simon. "Poynter, Ambrose".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/22687.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^Regent's Park and Primrose Hill.frances lincoln ltd. 2010. pp. 44–5.ISBN978-0-7112-2598-5.
- ^James F. White (1962).The Cambridge Movement: The Ecclesiologists and the Gothic Revival.CUP Archive. p. 117. GGKEY:YLGK0SFGZWG.
- ^James F. White (1962).The Cambridge Movement: The Ecclesiologists and the Gothic Revival.CUP Archive. pp. 119–120 note 1. GGKEY:YLGK0SFGZWG.
- ^"About Pynes".Pynes.org.uk.Retrieved30 December2011.
- ^Thomas Banks; Sir Thomas Lawrence (1938).Annals of Thomas Banks: Sculptor, Royal Academician.CUP Archive. p. 211. GGKEY:38ZS48NWC8R.
- ^Alan R. Young (2002).Hamlet and the Visual Arts: 1709 – 1900.University of Delaware Press. p. 93.ISBN978-0-87413-794-1.
- ^MacDonald, Stuart (2004).The history and philosophy of art education.James Clarke & Co. p. 92.ISBN978-0-7188-9153-4.
- ^abcRuskin, John; National Gallery (Great Britain) (1901).A popular handbook to the National Gallery: including by special permission notes collected from the works of Mr. Ruskin(Public domain ed.). Macmillan. p. 536.
- ^Antonia Brodie; British Architectural Library; Royal Institute of British Architects (2001).Directory of British Architects, 1834–1914: Vol. 2 (L-Z).Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 404.ISBN978-0-8264-5514-7.
External links[edit]
Works by or aboutAmbrose PoynteratWikisource
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Lee, Sidney,ed. (1896). "Poynter, Ambrose".Dictionary of National Biography.Vol. 46. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
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