Strawberry Hill, Villa of Horace Walpole
Anonymous, British, 18th century British
Not on view
This engraved view may have been made to illustrate an edition of "A description of the villa of Mr. Horace Walpole . . . at Strawberry-Hill near Twickenham, Middlesex." As Sir Robert Walpole's young son, Horace devoted himself to collecting, aesthetics and writing as well as to politics like his father. Between 1749 and 1776 he built a villa on the Thames west of London whose whimsical gothic elements reflected his own fascination with Britain's medieval past. An architectural novelty in its day, the villa helped to launch the Gothic Revival style so popular in the next century century.
