The Crace family had been prominent London interior decorators since Edward Crace (1725–1799), later keeper of the royal pictures to George III, established a business in 1768.[1] John Gregory Crace, Edward Crace's great-grandson, was the elder of two surviving sons of Frederick Crace (1779–1859), interior decorator to the then Prince Regent and a collector of maps and prints.[2][3] His mother, Augusta Harrop Gregory, was the daughter of John Gregory, a London magistrate and treasurer of the Whig Club.[2]
Illustration by John Gregory Crace of the interior of St. James's Theatre, decorated by the Frederick Crace CompanyDrawing of a Crace wall decoration, sketched by Frederick Smallfield
Crace commenced work as an assistant to his father in 1825, assisting on commissions from George IV on Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. In 1830, at age 21, he became a full partner in the family business (thereafter known as Frederick Crace & Son), on inheriting property and capital from his mother, who had died in 1827.[2]
He visited the Continent several times between 1825 and 1830, including an extended study tour of France and Germany in 1829, and became influenced by 18th-century French decorative arts.[2][4] He witnessed fighting in the streets of Paris during the July Revolution of 1830.[2]
Sir Charles Barry selected Augustus Pugin and Crace to decorate the interiors of the new Houses of Parliament. Maintaining his collaboration with Pugin, they worked together in the decoration of the Medieval Court in the Great Exhibition of 1851, and Crace later became the Superintendent of Decoration for the Great Exhibition building in 1862. He was also commissioned to decorate the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle in 1861-2.
Personal lifeedit
On 26 January 1833, he married Sarah Jane Hine Langley (1815–1894), daughter of John Inwood Langley, a civil servant at the Royal Naval Hospital, Greenwich.[2] The couple had twelve children, of whom eleven survived infancy. His eldest son, John Dibblee Crace (1838–1919), followed him into the family business, taking on the responsibility of managing the firm when Crace's health broke down in 1854–5; the two retained a close working relationship.[5] Another son, Everard Crace, became a silk weaver. A third son, Edward Kendall Crace, became an Australian pastoralist. [1]
He died at his home in Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill on 13 August 1889 and was buried at the Gothic-inspired West Norwood Cemetery under a slate-faced monument.
Referencesedit
^ ab"Aldrich M. Crace family (per. c.1725–c.1900). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004)". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
^ abcdefg"Aldrich M. Crace, John Gregory (1809–1889). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004)". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
^"Baigent E. Crace, Frederick (1779–1859). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004; 2006)". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
^"Aldrich M, Allwood R. "Crace". In: Grove Art Online: Oxford Art Online". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
^"Aldrich M. Crace, John Dibblee (1838–1919). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004)". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
Bibliographyedit
Rosemary Hill. God's Architect: Pugin and the Building of Romantic Britain. Allen Lane, 2007. ISBN978-0-7139-9499-5
January 01, 1970
john, gregory, crace, designer, this, article, about, british, victorian, interior, designer, australian, royal, navy, officer, john, gregory, crace, john, gregory, crace, 1809, august, 1889, british, interior, decorator, author, john, gregory, cracecrace, sea. This article is about the British Victorian interior designer For the Australian Royal Navy officer see John Gregory Crace John Gregory Crace 26 May 1809 13 August 1889 was a British interior decorator and author John Gregory CraceCrace seated with his son and grandsonBorn26 May 1809Died13 August 1889NationalityEnglishEducationFrederick CraceKnown forInterior decorationNotable workInteriors of Houses of ParliamentGreat ExhibitionSpouseSarah Jane Hine LangleyChildren12 including John Dibblee Crace amp Edward Kendall CracePatron s King George IV Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 BibliographyEarly life and education editThe Crace family had been prominent London interior decorators since Edward Crace 1725 1799 later keeper of the royal pictures to George III established a business in 1768 1 John Gregory Crace Edward Crace s great grandson was the elder of two surviving sons of Frederick Crace 1779 1859 interior decorator to the then Prince Regent and a collector of maps and prints 2 3 His mother Augusta Harrop Gregory was the daughter of John Gregory a London magistrate and treasurer of the Whig Club 2 Born at 34 Curzon Street in London Crace was educated at the schools of Dr Crombie in Greenwich and Mr Pollard in South Kensington 2 Career edit nbsp Illustration by John Gregory Crace of the interior of St James s Theatre decorated by the Frederick Crace Company nbsp Drawing of a Crace wall decoration sketched by Frederick Smallfield Crace commenced work as an assistant to his father in 1825 assisting on commissions from George IV on Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace In 1830 at age 21 he became a full partner in the family business thereafter known as Frederick Crace amp Son on inheriting property and capital from his mother who had died in 1827 2 He visited the Continent several times between 1825 and 1830 including an extended study tour of France and Germany in 1829 and became influenced by 18th century French decorative arts 2 4 He witnessed fighting in the streets of Paris during the July Revolution of 1830 2 Sir Charles Barry selected Augustus Pugin and Crace to decorate the interiors of the new Houses of Parliament Maintaining his collaboration with Pugin they worked together in the decoration of the Medieval Court in the Great Exhibition of 1851 and Crace later became the Superintendent of Decoration for the Great Exhibition building in 1862 He was also commissioned to decorate the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle in 1861 2 Personal life editOn 26 January 1833 he married Sarah Jane Hine Langley 1815 1894 daughter of John Inwood Langley a civil servant at the Royal Naval Hospital Greenwich 2 The couple had twelve children of whom eleven survived infancy His eldest son John Dibblee Crace 1838 1919 followed him into the family business taking on the responsibility of managing the firm when Crace s health broke down in 1854 5 the two retained a close working relationship 5 Another son Everard Crace became a silk weaver A third son Edward Kendall Crace became an Australian pastoralist 1 He died at his home in Half Moon Lane Herne Hill on 13 August 1889 and was buried at the Gothic inspired West Norwood Cemetery under a slate faced monument References edit a b Aldrich M Crace family per c 1725 c 1900 In Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004 Oxford University Press Retrieved 2008 04 08 a b c d e f g Aldrich M Crace John Gregory 1809 1889 In Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004 Oxford University Press Retrieved 2008 04 08 Baigent E Crace Frederick 1779 1859 In Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004 2006 Oxford University Press Retrieved 2008 04 08 Aldrich M Allwood R Crace In Grove Art Online Oxford Art Online Oxford University Press Retrieved 2008 04 09 Aldrich M Crace John Dibblee 1838 1919 In Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004 Oxford University Press Retrieved 2008 04 08 Bibliography editRosemary Hill God s Architect Pugin and the Building of Romantic Britain Allen Lane 2007 ISBN 978 0 7139 9499 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Gregory Crace designer amp oldid 1214583500, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
