Playfair, William Henry, 1790-1857 (architect)
Dates
- Existence: 1790 - 1857
Biography
The architect William Henry Playfair was born in Russell Square, London, July 1789. On the death of his father, Playfair was sent to reside with his uncle in Edinburgh. Professor John Playfair, mathematician and geologist and a leading figure in the Edinburgh Enlightenment, took control of his nephew's education. Following his father's profession, the young Playfair studied under William Starke of Glasgow. His first public appointment was the laying out of part of the New Town in Edinburgh in 1815.
Then, after a visit to France in 1816, he established himself professionally by winning the commission in 1817 to complete the unfinished University buildings (leaving the front as designed by Robert and James Adam). He also designed the city's Royal Terrace and Regent Terrace on the Calton Hill estate; the unfinished National Monument on Calton Hill; and, the Royal Scottish Academy and the National Gallery on the Mound. While Playfair's most important works in Edinburgh have been executed in the Greek revivalist or classical style - earning for Edinburgh the title of 'Athens of the North' - he was competent in other styles too. He designed New College for the ten newly established Free Church of Scotland, a jagged-lined rendering of the Gothic style. He also built country houses and mansions in the Italianate and Tudor styles.
Playfair died in Edinburgh after a long illness on 27 May 1857.
Found in 163 Collections and/or Records:
Plan Showing Soffit of Gallery and Venetian windows and in Upper Museum, 25th May 1818
plan of soffit
plan showing the arrangement and wooden framework of the soffit on the top of the first plan showing how wooden framework connected with walls showing the arrangement of the windows(different size), piers and cabinet using different types of wood
On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen watercolour ( pink, dark pink, yellow, orange, brown, dark brown)
Plan showing the framing for galleries at the northern end of the Museum, Not indicated
Plan showing the Manner of Gluing up the Columns, 2nd January 1818
Plan showing the Manner of Gluing up the Columns section of the shaft at the joint blew the astragal(???) elevation of the shaft of the column elevation of the astragal of the column
Specific Features and Details:
On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen watercolour layers (yellow and orange )
Plaster Capitol for the Upper Museum, 18th November 1818
Corinthian capitol detail
Plaster Capitol for the Upper Museum, 19th November 1818
Elevation of corinthian capitol
On the reverse of the drawing: Crude drawing of a Joint
Plaster Cornice for Circular Corridor and Piazza (Full Size), 7th August 1819
Plaster cornice for circular corridor and piazza
Plaster Moldings (Full Size) for Ceiling of Natural History Classroom, 19th April 1819
Details and plan of moldings around opening of the skylight
Plaster Ornaments for Ceiling of Lower Gallery of Museum, 27th April 1819
Detailed plan of plaster ceiling ornament with section of moldings.
Plaster Ornaments for Lower Museum, 5th July 1819
Plan, section and elevation of the cornice mouldings.
Plaster Patera, Full Size, For Centre of Skylights in Upper Museum, 12th November 1818
Plan of plaster Patera with partial detail and Section through the middle