Interior of the saloon, the old Conservative Club
Sydney Smirke and George Basevi
Interior decoration by Messrs Sang and Naundorff
1843-45
St James's Street, London
[See commentary below]
Other Views
Photograph and text 2008 by Jacqueline Banerjee
The interior of the club, with a grand marble staircase (since removed) focused on a square saloon with an upper storey around a circular balustrade and a dome above it, and was sumptuously decorated by Messers Sang and Naundorff. This was "influenced by the world of Prince Albert, with his passion for Raphael, and his artistic adviser, Ludwig Grüner, who knew other German artists such as Sang" (Watkin). Sang was responsible for the decoration of other club interiors, like those of the now demolished Army and Navy and old Carlton Clubs, so this perhaps had became the typical club style. Here, it proved quite controversial. The Illustrated London News described it as "a most graceful composition of some of the most exquisite beauties of nature and the most admired forms of classic art"; but The Builder found it to be "common and hackneyed," of a kind that "would disgrace a tea garden" and might have been better done by theatrical scene painters (qtd. in Sheppard). It is certainly theatrical. The strategically-placed mirror in the centre here matches one on the other side, and together they multiply the effect of the arches, each also reflecting the other side of the balustrade above., where similar large mirrors were installed. This reminds us that Basevi was a pupil of Sir John Soane, who used mirrors to great effect in his Lincoln's Inn Fields townhouse. Of course, there is no way of knowing for sure who was responsible for what; however, F. H. W. Sheppard says there is no evidence to support the idea that the two architects designed different parts of the interior, with Smirke designing this floor. On the contrary, the more flamboyant baroque style here strongly suggests Basevi's hand.
References
Sheppard, F. H.W. "St James's Street, West Side, Existing Buildings." Survey of London, Vols. 29 and 30, St James Westminster, Part I (1960). Viewed 9 October 2008.
Watkin, David. "Cultured Club." bd: The Architects' Website. Viewed 9 October 2008.
Last modified 9 October 2008