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:
Elevation of Western Front of the Building at the South Western Angle, 12th September 1817
Elevation of Windows in the Eastern Front of the Museum Showing Lash Frame, 15th June 1818
Elevations & Sections (Full Size) of the ornament belt for the building at the south western angle, 25th February 1818
Elevation and sections of ornament details
the drawing is focused on 2 typologies of ornamental roundels whose ornmental outline is shown in the central elevation and rendered through light and shadow. On the sides there are 2 sections relative to the different typologies.
On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen + watercolour layers (pink and shades of grey for shadow)
End Elevation of Ionic Capitol for Columns in Upper Museum, 2nd July 1819
Detail elevation of Ionic Capitol
Finishings for Chemistry Class, 3rd September 1819
Shelf moldings, jamb and mantle boardings, finishings for front of circular cabinets in the upper musuem, finishings for cabinets off the upper museum, (?) molding for chimney piece, section on AB (chimney piece), elevation of chimney piece for retiring room, plan of fireplace.
Finishings of Upper Museum, 27th September 1818
Ten separate sections showing various moulding details
??? Frames of a Venetian Window in the Upper Museum, 16th February 1818
Frieze and Cornice of Great Staircase of Museum, 20th February 1819
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Frieze of Doric Cornice of Lower Museum (Full Size), 2nd May 1819
Detail of Doric cornice showing the frieze, mutule, drop, architrave with section and plan.
Front Elevation of Capital of Ionic Columns for the Colonnade of the Building at the South West Angle, 18th June 1818
Front Elevation
the drawing illustrates details of the moulding of the Ionic columns to be placed at the South West Angles of the Building. The red ink lines highlight the diameters and geometry at the different points of the spiral
On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen + red Ink Pen + watercolor (grey)