Charles Robert Cockerell
Encyclopedia
Charles Robert Cockerell (1788 – 1863) was an English architect
, archaeologist, and writer
.
from 1802. From the age of sixteen, he trained in the architectural practice of his father, Samuel Pepys Cockerell
. From 1809 to 1810 Cockerell became an assistant to Robert Smirke
, helping in the rebuilding the Covent Garden Theatre, the forerunner of today's Royal Opera House
). On the 14th April 1810 he set off on the Grand Tour
. Due to the Napoleonic Wars
much of Europe was closed to the British, so he headed for Cadiz
, Malta
and Constantinople
(Istanbul
); from there he went to Troy
, finally arriving in Athens
, Greece
by January 1811. In April 1811 he was in Aegina
where he helped excavate the Temple of Aphaea
(which he called the Temple of Jupiter), finding fallen fragmentary pediment sculptures (these are now in Germany). He set up his own architectural practice in 1817 and became relatively successful, winning the first Royal Gold Medal
for architecture in 1848 and becoming president of the Royal Institute of British Architects
in 1860.
As an archaeologist, Cockerell is remembered for removing the reliefs
from the temple of Apollo at Bassae
, near Phigalia
, which are now in the British Museum
. Replicas of these reliefs were included in the frieze of the library of the Travellers Club
, of which Charles Robert Cockerell was a founding committee member in 1819.
With Jacques Ignace Hittorff
and Thomas Leverton Donaldson
, Cockerell was also a member of the committee formed in 1836 to determine whether the Elgin Marbles
and other Greek statuary in the British Museum
had originally been coloured (see Transactions of the Royal Institute of British Architects for 1842).
The Royal Academy of Arts composed a brief commemorative biography of Cockerell, including the following sentiment which speaks to his great work as a student of architecture:
His second son Frederick Pepys Cockerell
also became an architect.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, archaeologist, and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Life
Charles Robert Cockerell was educated at Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
from 1802. From the age of sixteen, he trained in the architectural practice of his father, Samuel Pepys Cockerell
Samuel Pepys Cockerell
Samuel Pepys Cockerell was an English architect. He was the son of John Cockerell, of Bishop's Hull, Somerset, and the brother of Sir Charles Cockerell, 1st Baronet, for whom he designed the house he is best known for, Sezincote House, Gloucestershire, where the uniquely Orientalizing features...
. From 1809 to 1810 Cockerell became an assistant to Robert Smirke
Robert Smirke (architect)
Sir Robert Smirke was an English architect, one of the leaders of Greek Revival architecture his best known building in that style is the British Museum, though he also designed using other architectural styles...
, helping in the rebuilding the Covent Garden Theatre, the forerunner of today's Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
). On the 14th April 1810 he set off on the Grand Tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
. Due to the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
much of Europe was closed to the British, so he headed for Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
(Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
); from there he went to Troy
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
, finally arriving in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
by January 1811. In April 1811 he was in Aegina
Aegina
Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, who was born in and ruled the island. During ancient times, Aegina was a rival to Athens, the great sea power of the era.-Municipality:The municipality...
where he helped excavate the Temple of Aphaea
Temple of Aphaea
The Temple of Afea The Temple of Afea The Temple of Afea (the name Afea appears on all the local signs, Afea being the name of a Cretan woman of unsurpassed beauty. After escaping a unwelcome marriage on Crete, she was rescued by a fisherman from Aegina. In payment for this he also proposed an...
(which he called the Temple of Jupiter), finding fallen fragmentary pediment sculptures (these are now in Germany). He set up his own architectural practice in 1817 and became relatively successful, winning the first Royal Gold Medal
Royal Gold Medal
The Royal Gold Medal for architecture is awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects on behalf of the British monarch, in recognition of an individual's or group's substantial contribution to international architecture....
for architecture in 1848 and becoming president of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
in 1860.
As an archaeologist, Cockerell is remembered for removing the reliefs
Bassae Frieze
The Bassae Frieze is the high relief marble sculpture in 23 panels, 31m long by 0.63m high, made to decorate the interior of the cella of the Temple of Apollo Epikourios at Bassae. It was discovered in 1811 by Carl Haller and Charles Cockerell, and excavated the following year by an expedition of...
from the temple of Apollo at Bassae
Bassae
Bassae or Bassai, Vassai or Vasses , meaning "little vale in the rocks", is an archaeological site in the northeastern part of Messinia Prefecture that was a part of Arcadia in ancient times. Bassae lies near the village of Skliros, northeast of Figaleia, south of Andritsaina and west of Megalopolis...
, near Phigalia
Phigalia
Phigalia or Phigaleia is an ancient Greek city in the south-west corner of Arcadia. It is also the present name of a nearby modern village, known up to the early 20th century as Pavlitsa . In modern geography it is located in the southeastern Elis Prefecture...
, which are now in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. Replicas of these reliefs were included in the frieze of the library of the Travellers Club
Travellers Club
The Travellers Club is a gentlemen's club standing at 106 Pall Mall, London. It is the oldest of the surviving Pall Mall clubs, having been established in 1819, and was recently described by the Los Angeles Times as "the quintessential English gentleman's club." Visits are possible by invitation...
, of which Charles Robert Cockerell was a founding committee member in 1819.
With Jacques Ignace Hittorff
Jacques Ignace Hittorff
Jakob Ignaz Hittorff was a German-born French architect who combined advanced structural use of new materials, notably cast iron, with conservative Beaux-Arts classicism in a career that spanned the decades from the Restoration to the Second Empire.After serving an apprenticeship to a mason in his...
and Thomas Leverton Donaldson
Thomas Leverton Donaldson
Thomas Leverton Donaldson was an English architect.He was born in Bloomsbury Square, London, the eldest son of architect, James Donaldson...
, Cockerell was also a member of the committee formed in 1836 to determine whether the Elgin Marbles
Elgin Marbles
The Parthenon Marbles, forming a part of the collection known as the Elgin Marbles , are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures , inscriptions and architectural members that originally were part of the Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis of Athens...
and other Greek statuary in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
had originally been coloured (see Transactions of the Royal Institute of British Architects for 1842).
The Royal Academy of Arts composed a brief commemorative biography of Cockerell, including the following sentiment which speaks to his great work as a student of architecture:
- "At the heart of Cockerell's emotional experience of the power of the antique to fire the imagination lay an extraordinary visual sensitivity to the mass and volume of the components of architecture, which for him were never mere abstract, weightless forms or quotations borrowed from the past, but acted together as a constantly renewable expression of man's innate need to create beauty on earth."
His second son Frederick Pepys Cockerell
Frederick Pepys Cockerell
Frederick Pepys Cockerell was a British architect. He was the second son of Charles Robert Cockerell, also an architect, whose favour for French architecture and sculpture in architecture was a major influence on Frederick.-Life:He studied at Winchester College and at King's College London, and...
also became an architect.
Published works
- Travels in Southern Europe and the Levant, 1810-17 the Journal of C.R. Cockerell R.A., S.P. Cockerell Ed 1903
- Progetto di collccazione delle statue antiche esisenti nella Galleria di frienza che rappresentano la Favola di Niobe, Firenza 1816
- 'Le Statue della Favola di Niobe dell' Imp.eR. Galleria di Firenza situate nella primitiva loro disposizione da C.R. Cockerell, Firenza 1818
- On the Aegina Marbles, Journal of Science and the Arts, VI 327-31
- On the Labyrinth of Crete, in Travels in Various Countries, Robert Walpole Ed 2 vols, 1817 and 1820 vol. II Pages 402-9
- An Account of Hanover Chapel, in Regent Street, in The Public Buildings of London, J. Britton & A.C. Pugin 2 vols, 1825-28 vol. II pages 276-82
- The Temple of Jupiter Olympius at Agrigentum, supplement to Stuart & Revetts Antiquities of Athens, 1829
- The Pediment Sculptures of the Parthenon, as part VI of A Description of the Collection of Ancient Marbles in the British Museum, 1830
- Plan and Section of the New Bank of England Dividend, Pay and Warrant Offices and Accountant's Drawing Office 1835
- The Architectural Works of William of Wykeham, Proceedings of the Archaeological Institute at Winchester, 1845
- Ancient Sculptures in Lincoln Cathedral, in Proceedings of the Archaeological Institute, 1850
- Iconography of the West Front of Wells Cathedral, with an appendix on the Sculptures of other Mediaeval Churches in England, 1851
- Illustrations, Architectural and Pictorial of the Genius of M.A. Buonarroti with descriptions of the plates by C.R. Cockerell, Canina 1857
- Statement by Mr Cockerell on the Wellington Monument Competition, The Builder XV p. 427, 1857
- Address, Royal Institute of British Architects, Session, 1859–60, 111-13, 1859
- On the Painting of the Ancients, in the Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal, XXII p42-44 & 88-91, 1859
- Presidential Address, Royal Institute of British Architects, Session, 1861–62, 1860
- The Temples of Jupiter Panhellenius at Aegina and of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, 1860
- Architectural Accessories of Monumental Sculpture, in the Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal, XXIV p333-6, 1861
- A Descriptive Account of the Sculptures of the West Front of Wells Cathedral photographed for the Architectural Photographic Association, 1862
Works
- 1818-1820 - Tower and facade of St. Mary's church BanburyBanburyBanbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
, in classical style, the body of the church is by his father - 1819-1820 - Old Schools, Harrow SchoolHarrow SchoolHarrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
in Tudor Gothic, brick with stone dressings - 1821 Library and Chapel, Bowood House, Wiltshire
- 1821 Hanover Chapel, Regent Street, London (demolished
- 1821-23 Oakley Park, ShropshireShropshireShropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
remodelling work - 1822-1827 - The Saint David's Building, University of Wales, LampeterUniversity of Wales, LampeterUniversity of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
. - 1824-28 Langton House, Dorset, demolished
- 1824-1829 - The National Monument, EdinburghNational Monument, EdinburghThe National Monument of Scotland, popularly referred to as Scotland's Disgrace, the Pride and Poverty of Scotland or Edinburgh's Shame, is an unfinished building on Calton Hill in Edinburgh...
with William Henry PlayfairWilliam Henry PlayfairWilliam Henry Playfair FRSE was one of the greatest Scottish architects of the 19th century, designer of many of Edinburgh's neo-classical landmarks in the New Town....
, unfinished. - 1829 - Church of Holy Trinity, HotwellsChurch of Holy Trinity, HotwellsChurch of Holy Trinity is a church in Hotwells, Bristol, England.It was built in 1829 by Charles Robert Cockerell with an interior by T Burrough and consecrated on 10 November 1830....
, BristolBristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. - 1831 Westminster, Life and British Fire Office, London, demolished
- 1835 - The Bank of EnglandBank of EnglandThe Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
, Courtney Street, PlymouthPlymouthPlymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. - 1836-1837 - Cambridge University LibraryOld SchoolsThe Old Schools are part of the University of Cambridge, in the centre of Cambridge, England. The Old Schools house the Cambridge University Offices, which form the main administration for the University....
, only the north wing of the quadrangularQuadrangle (architecture)In architecture, a quadrangle is a space or courtyard, usually rectangular in plan, the sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by parts of a large building. The word is probably most closely associated with college or university campus architecture, but quadrangles may be found in other...
design was built. - 1837 London and Westminster Bank, City of London, demolished
- 1838 - The Chapel KillertonKillertonKillerton is an 18th-century house in Broadclyst, Exeter, Devon, England, which, with its hillside garden and estate, has been owned by the National Trust since 1944 and is open to the public...
in a Neo-Norman style - 1838 - London & Westminster Bank, Lothbury, London (with William TiteWilliam TiteSir William Tite, CB was an English architect who served as President of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He was particularly associated with various London buildings, with railway stations and cemetery projects....
). - 1839-1845 - The Ashmolean MuseumAshmolean MuseumThe Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first university museum...
and Taylor InstitutionTaylor InstitutionThe Taylor Institution comprises the buildings in Oxford which harbour the libraries dedicated to the study of the European Languages at Oxford University. It also includes lecture rooms used by the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, University of Oxford...
, Oxford University. - 1841 Sun Fire Office, London, demolished
- 1844-1847 - The Bank of England, BristolFormer Bank of England, BristolThe Former Bank of England is a historic building at 13/14 Broad Street in Bristol, England.It was built in 1844-47 by Charles Robert Cockerell...
. - 1845 - The Bank of EnglandBank of EnglandThe Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
, Castle Street, LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. - 1845 - The Bank of EnglandFormer Bank of England, ManchesterThe Former Bank of England building on King Street, Manchester is a historic banking building. It has been recognised as a Grade I listed building, maintained by Manchester City Council...
, King Street, ManchesterKing Street, ManchesterKing Street is one of the most important thoroughfares of the city of Manchester, England. Once the centre of the north-west banking industry it is now predominantly an affluent shopping area.-History:...
. - 1845-1848 - Bank of England, LiverpoolBank of England, LiverpoolThe Bank of England Building is a Grade I listed building located in Liverpool, England. It was designed by Charles Robert Cockerell and built in a Neoclassical style between 1845–1848...
. - 1848 - Fitzwilliam MuseumFitzwilliam MuseumThe Fitzwilliam Museum is the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge, located on Trumpington Street opposite Fitzwilliam Street in central Cambridge, England. It receives around 300,000 visitors annually. Admission is free....
, Cambridge UniversityUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, designed the interiors after the death of the architect George BaseviGeorge BaseviElias George Basevi FRS was an English architect. He was the favourite pupil of Sir John Soane.-Life:Basevi was the youngest son of a City of London merchant, also named George Basevi...
. - 1848Bank Chambers, Cook Street, Liverpool, demolished
- 1851-1854 - St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, designed the interiors after the death of the architect Harvey Lonsdale ElmesHarvey Lonsdale ElmesHarvey Lonsdale Elmes , the son of James Elmes, was born in Chichester, England. He was a distinguished architect....
. - 1855 Liverpool and London Insurance Office, Liverpool
External links
- http://www.racollection.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?submit-button=search&search-form=artist/artist_month_may2005.html&_IXSESSION_=F1tc7cZXMh7
- http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/speel/arch/cockerel.htm
- http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0812735.html
- Cockerell and the Grand Tour Antiquities of Athens and other places in Greece Sicily etc (London 1839). German edition Die Alterthümer von Athen from 1833, online at the University of Heidelberg