Hugh May
Hugh May ( * 1621, † February 21, 1684 ) was an English architect who worked during the Stuart Restoration under Charles II. May was thus in a period as an architect active, which lies between the first introduction of Palladianism into England by Inigo Jones and the flowering of English Baroque under John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. His own work has been influenced both by the work of Inigo Jones and as well as the classical Dutch architecture.
Few buildings from May are still preserved. These Eltham Lodge is one and the eastern front, stables and chapel of the Cornbury House. Nevertheless, his works are regarded as influential and important to the development of architecture in England and Scotland. Together with his contemporaries Richard Pratt goes on May back the introduction of an Anglo - Dutch style, which was widely imitated.
Life
Hugh May was the seventh son of John May from the village of Mid Lavant, West Sussex and his wife Elizabeth Hill. He was baptized on 2 October 1621 his date of birth is no different than the day of his baptism known.
The May family was loyal to the king: Hugh May was among other cousin of Baptist May, the private treasurer of the English King Charles II Adhering to his loyalty to the English king, spent Hugh May the years during Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth in the service of the Duke of Buckingham. May took care of at this time, among other reasons, that works of art from the London palace of the Duke were brought to the Netherlands, where the Duke of Buckingham lived in exile. May learned here the contemporary Dutch architecture know. This was characterized by simple but elegant brick buildings, as they were designed, among other things by the Dutch architects Jacob van Campen and Pieter Post. May befriended at this time also with the court painter Peter Lely and two of them spent some time in 1656 at the court of Charles II, who was also living in exile. At May's circle of friends was also among Samuel Pepys, the May called a witty and brilliant man, and Roger North and John Evelyn, which was May assist in the translation of Roland Fréarts architecture theoretical writings. There are no designs or blueprints delivered by Hugh May and it is possible that he left in his work on technical draftsman.
Hugh May died at the age of 63 and is buried in the church of the village of Mid Lavant.
Structures
After the return of Charles II to England in May was rewarded on 29 June with the appointment as paymaster of the Office of Works for his loyalty. The so-called Office of Works were under all construction work on the royal castles and residences. Contracts for the design and construction of structures, however, he was not given initially by the English king, but by the people he had met in the royal court. Its first building was Eltham Lodge, Kent (1663-1664) for the Baronet John Shaw. The brick building had significantly influences by the Dutch architecture. Cornbury House, Oxfordshire (1663-1668) was built in a similar style, which commissioned this building was Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon. May's most famous building was Berkeley House in London's Piccadilly (1664-1666, demolished 1733), which he set up on behalf of Lord Berkeley. This house, with its square colonnades that took up elements of Palladionismus, was repeatedly copied by other architects. For the Earl of Essex May added the estate Cassiobury, Hertfordshire ( 1674, demolished 1922) to wing and designed a new part of the interiors. May first worked here together with Grinling Gibbons, who is still regarded as the greatest English sculptor. Maybe May was also the architect of the original Burlington House that was built for the poet John Denham. It is certain that he advised the Earl of Burlington, after he bought the house in 1667.
All buildings Mays leaned against the contemporary Dutch Classicism, as its celebrity famous example the Mauritshuis (1636-1641) is considered. He introduced so that a rational, but classically elegant Hauser type in England. His style, which was simpler than that of the English architect Jones and Pratt, has been widely copied. Examples include Melton Constable, Norfolk ( 1665) and Ramsbury Manor, Wiltshire ( 1681-1686 ). Mays and Pratts development of the architectural style of Inigo Jones, in turn, influenced their contemporary colleagues Christopher Wren and spread through the works of William Bruce to Scotland.
Reconstruction of London
After the Great Fire of London in September 1666 Hugh May was one of three people named Charles II as a member of a commission that was tasked with the construction of the city. The other two appointees were Roger Pratt and Christopher Wren. Overall, the Commission consisted of six persons, the other three were representatives of the City of London: Robert Hooke, curator of the Royal Society, and two men with local knowledge, Edward Jerman (around 1605-1668 ) and Peter Mills, the town surveyor. May's role in this reconstruction remained relatively limited.
Reconstruction of Windsor Castle
In June 1668 May was appointed Controller of the Office of Works and conveyed to the officials at the Court of Common Pleas. The latter was a Court of Justice, were tried at the civil rights cases. In November 1673 was entrusted with the rebuilding of Windsor Castle. Together with Lely May had significant role in ensuring that Grinling Gibbons was commissioned to carry out the carvings for the redesign of the rooms.
During the reconstruction of Windsor Castle May replaced the original quarters from the time of the Plantagenets on the north terrace by the cube-shaped building Star ( Star Building ). These chambers were decorated with ceiling paintings by Antonio Verrio and carvings by Grinling Gibbons. The king also acquired tapestries and paintings to furnish the rooms. These works formed the basis for today's royal collection, the Royal Collection. Three of the rooms have remained largely unchanged: the common room and the audience chamber of the queen, both of which were designed for the wife of Charles II, Catherine of Braganza, and the dining room of the King. In these chambers, both the ceiling painting by Verrio and the paneling of gibbons are obtained. Originally there were twenty rooms in these facilities. Some of Gibbons works have been saved if changes were made as a result of alterations or restorations. In the 19th century these carvings were then integrated into the new interior of the throne room of the Garter, and in the Waterloo Chamber. The largest room, the so-called St. George's Hall, was changed in 1826 as Jeffry Wyatville remodeled the rooms of Windsor Castle. However, the St. George's Hall served as a model for Christopher Wren Great Hall of the Palace of Placentia.