Irish Georgian

During the late eighteenth century, the landed gentry of Ireland spearheaded the founding of a considerable Irish industry, dedicated to beauty in architecture, design and decoration. In all disciplines of style, Ireland set extraordinary standards and achieved many world firsts, including the first public building in the Neo-Palladian style; marvelously decorated copper-plate-printed fabric; silver and cut crystal; and the perfection of the mezzotint technique. Less pretentious than their English counterparts, Irish Georgian houses distinguish themselves not just by their wild and wonderful settings and inspiring classicism, but also by an extraoridnary quality of workmanship.

'Irish Georgian' explores the simplicity, symmetry and unaffected elegance of the classical revival pervading the architecture of this era, celebrating its powerful appeal and renewed interest today. From grand country manors, genteel townhouses and graceful villas to simple rural cottages, Ypma's investigation, along with photographs by Barbara and René Stoeltie, examines the inspirational houses, great and small, renovated by people such as Desmond and Mariga Guinness, Tomthy Hennessy, and even the Stoelties themselves.

'Irish Georgian' will provide architects, designers, and those with an interest in the decorative arts with an illuminating book at a magnificent cultural legacy.