Stowe House

This long-term project is led by Rhiannon Claricoates and has its roots in an architectural paint research project she undertook on behalf of Hirst Conservation for Stowe House Preservation Trust. This identified a previously unknown mural on the walls of the east staircase, and led to a raking light survey and exploratory uncovering. 

 

With Lincoln Conservation, Rhiannon has managed further uncovering projects, which have partially revealed the existence of four niches with classical figures; likely Minerva / Athena, Egeria (a water nymph), Truth or Veritas, and Justice, flanked by military trophies, trompe l'oeil architectural features, lion heads and cornucopias. 

 

These subsequent phases of uncovering have been adapted to the funding cycles, as well as ridged timetabling; due to the House’s use as a boy’s school, work can only be carried out during holiday periods.

Students from the Conservation degree at University of Lincoln were involved on some phases of the project, enabling them the opportunity to build skills and experience of live, on-site conservation work, and directly led to the employment of a student by a commercial conservation firm. 

 

The ceiling and wall paintings in the East Staircase were originally thought to be by Francesco Sleter, who, as well as his more famous contemporary William Kent, had been documented as working at Stowe House. However, further material research undertaken by Rhiannon at other murals credited to Sleter and/or Kent, and archival research of the Stowe House archives at the Huntington Library, California, strongly suggests that the paintings in the East Stairs currently attributed to Sleter are likely to actually have been created by William Kent. 

 

Funding for the works and research has been generously provided by Stowe House Preservation Trust, The World Monuments Fund Britain, The Hall Bequest Trust and The Huntington Library.