FROM THE PUBLISHER

In 1846 Sir Thomas Deane, a Cork architect, builder and politician employed Benjamin Woodward, a young architect with an interest in medieval antiquities, to assist in the design of Queen's College, Cork. Thus began one of the most remarkable partnerships in nineteenth-century architectural history. Their most notable commissions include the asylum at Killarney, the Kildare Street Club, the Museum Building in Trinity College, Dublin and the University Museum in Oxford. Frederick O'Dwyer has gathered together over 300 contemporary and modern photographs, engravings and architectural drawings to illustrate the most comprehensive study of an architectural practice ever undertaken by an Irish publisher.

SYNOPSIS

The Architecture of Deane and Woodward chronicles the development of one of the nineteenth century's most influential architectural practices: from Deane and Woodward's first designs for the Irish provincial elite to their world famous buildings in Dublin, London and Oxford.

In 1846 Sir Thomas Deane, a Cork architect, builder and politician employed a young architect with an interest in medieval antiquities to assist in the design of Queen's College, now University College, Cork. Benjamin Woodward, (whose background and training as an engineer has long been a matter for speculation by historians) completed a brilliant series of designs, and the partnership grew to accommodate other commissions in the political and cultural milieu of early-Victorian Cork. The practice gained in reputation to such a degree that by the mid-1850s their mature work included the great Museum Building at Trinity College, Dublin (1853) and the Museum at Oxford (1854). It is in these buildings that the influence of John Ruskin, becomes clear and indeed Ruskin became directly involved in both projects, which supports the belief that no one did more than Woodward to give practical application to Ruskin's ideas. It was through him that Woodward expanded his own range of influences through meetings with Dante Gabriel Rossetti and the Pre-Raphael Brotherhood.

Frederick O'Dwyer has gathered together nearly 300 drawings and photographs in order to complete the catalogue, including Deane & Woodward's less well-known domestic work, school and church designs and unexecuted projects. Many of these are previously unpublished drawings and contemporary photographs: Deane and Woodward were among the first architectural practices to have their buildings photographed under construction. Despite the relatively short life of the practice, (Woodward died from tuberculosis in 1861), its architecture was much imitated. These influences are chronicled in the later work of the Deane practice. Woodward's pupils and contemporaries, from Gilbert Scott's design for the Government offices at Whitehall, to Parliament House at Ottawa.

The significance of their work will appeal to an international readership of architectural historians specializing in the 19th century, and will inform any general reader with more than a passing interest in the period. Frederick O'Dwyer's research is meticulous and important, illuminating complex creative relationships which left such impressive monuments to the Victorian era.

FROM THE CRITICS

Gavin Stamp - (Perspectives)

Frederick O'Dwyer has.. given us a comprehensive and detailed survey of the total production of Deane and Woodward from Sir Thomas Deane's early efforts in Cork until his son's death in Dublin in1899... a valuable addition to the architectural history of Ireland.

Ray Ryan - (The Irish Independent Weekender)

This book proceeds in Catholic fashion from the moods of National Romanticism to today's impact of European Structural Funds... Remarkably, it is the first ever compendium of modern architectural achievement in Ireland both North and South.

Richard Wood - (The Examiner)

Like Deane and Woodward's best buildings, this is a monumental work of scholarship, well researched and painstakingly executed in which the author reaches groundbreaking conclusions. ... The book, with its extensive notes, bibliography, fine selection of illustrations, and index of words, is indispensable to the student and thoroughly satisfying to the general reader.

Birkin Haward - (Architectural Review)

The unfolding story has been skilfully pieced together drawing largely on the wealth of remaining manuscript sources, principally in the Minutes of the Delegates Meetings (essentially client meeting minutes), from 1853 onwards.

Ciaran Carty - (The Sunday Tribune)