The Early Earls of Belmore’s Furniture: Restrained Beauty to Rich Opulence The Furnishings in the Lifetime of the Ist Earl of Belmore and the 2nd Earl of Belmore in Castle Coole, County Fermanagh

Martha Lowry Corry
Trinity College Dublin
Department of History of Art and Architecture
2015
BA

Subject: Sculpture, Furniture and Architecture
Country: Ireland
Period: 18th Century

10,000 words

Castle Coole is an eighteenth century Neoclassical house designed by James Wyatt, situated in County Fermanagh. It has been the home of the Belmore family for the past 200 years. The objective of this thesis is to create a comprehensive account of the furnishing during the time of the Ist Earl of Belmore (Armar Lowry Corry, 1750-1802) and the 2nd Earl of Belmore (Somerset Lowry Corry, 1774-1841) and to determine the scale of expenditure by each earl. This thesis will examine the relationship between the architecture and the furniture of Castle Coole and how they are displayed. The 2nd Earl’s London house will provide a useful comparison in terms of cost and content. This thesis interprets the scant primary sources, which is helpful in distinguishing the location of furnishings in each room and outlining the costs.

Irish Georgian Society

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The Early Earls of Belmore’s Furniture: Restrained Beauty to Rich Opulence The Furnishings in the Lifetime of the Ist Earl of Belmore and the 2nd Earl of Belmore in Castle Coole, County Fermanagh