Hedvig Győry: Mélanges offerts a Edith Varga „Le lotus qui sort de terre” (Bulletin du Musée Hongrois des Beaux-Arts Supplément 1. Budapest, 2001)
JOACHIM SLIWA: Egyptian Hall and the Exhibition of Egyptian Art in London, 1821-1822
such the rage for novelty, that we frequently see attempts of this kind by way of decoration" 9 . But more often the idea of Robinson met with approbation, as for example in the instance of such a recognised architect as James Eimes (1782-1862), who in his assessment do not regret such terms as "colossal, robust, grand and imposing", while according to his belief "The two colossal figures that support the entablature of the centre window are novel in idea and application; picturesque in effect; and add variety to the composition [...]"'°. Shortly also appeared imitations of Egyptian Hall. In 1823 John Foulston ( 1772-1842) erected in Devonport (Plymouth), at Ker Street, the building of "Civil and Military Library", in essential way referring to the Egyptian Hall." Not only the façade but also the interior and even library cupboards had clear egyptianizing elements. The "Egyptian" building designed by Foulston was a part of the larger architectonic complex created by him in Devonport within eclectic historicism. There was a group of buildings of various styles: a range of classical houses, a Greek-Doric town-house and column; and an oriental "Hindoo"-Gothic chapel and of course our Egyptian library. The closest to the prototype, almost its copy, is Egyptian House in Penzance (Cornwall) at No.6, Chapel Street, built about 1830-1835. 12 Towards the demolition of Egyptian Hall in London, this structure allows us to imagine its former appearance. The composition of the façade and such elements as cavetto cornices, torus mouldings, corbel-arched windows, column portico on the ground floor are identical. However, the scale is diminished, extra windows were added to the highest level, the statues in the central window were replaced by terms. This building played also museum functions - it was erected for George Lavin, collector of geological specimens. There is an essential question, what inspired P. F. Robinson, the author of Egyptian Hall, to select such means, which were to create the strong relationship of his project and Egyptian prototypes. We can often meet the opinion, ' J. Soane, Lectures on Architecture, in: A.T. Bolton (ed.), Sir John Soane's Museum Publications, No. 14, London 1929, pp. 20-21. Quoted also in N. Pevsner - S. Lang, The Architectural Review, The Egyptian Revival, Vol. 119, No. 712 (May 1956), p. 243. "' J. Eimes, Metropolitan Improvements, or, London in the Nineteenth Century, London 1827, p. 157 (quoted in R.G. Carrot, op. cit. (note I), p. 16). " Cfr. Carrot, op. cit. (note I), p. 35, pis. 13-15; Curl, op.cit (note 1), pp. 159-161 and pis. 113-114; Humbert, op. cit (note I), p. 184, fig. 114/2. a Cfr. Carrot, op. cit., p. 35, pi. 16; Curl, op. cit., p. 166 and pi. 120; Humbert, op. cit., p. 184, fig. 114/3.
