LUGAR, Arthur. Architectural Sketches for Cottages, Rural Dwellings and Villas. In the Grecian, Gothic, and fancy styles, with plans, suitable to persons of genteel life and moderate fortune: preceded by some observations on scenery and character proper for picturesque buildings.

With 38 engraved plates (most sepia-tinted; many with accompanying ground plans). London: Printed by T. Bensley for J. Taylor, the Architectural Library, 59 High Holborn, 1805. Quarto. pp. [4], [3], 4-27, [1], 38 (plates and plans). Contemporary full worn half calf, title in gilt on spine. Early ownership inscription by Mrs Hutton of Gaywood. Occasional light foxing. A very good copy. Rare.
JISC locates 4 copies only. WorldCat 2. Referenced by: Archer 192.1.
A cornerstone pattern-book of the picturesque cottage-orné and small villa, issued by J. Taylor’s Architectural Library for “persons of genteel life and moderate fortune”. Lugar, an active country-house architect, offers compact designs in Gothic, Grecian and ‘fancy’ modes, each shown in an engraved perspective with a practical plan, and prefaced by advice on siting and scenery. The plates are here complete and display the Regency vocabulary of verandas, bays, battlements and porticoes that shaped countless builder’s houses in Britain and Ireland.
Robert Lugar (1773-1855) was an English architect–land surveyor of the picturesque school. He made his name with popular pattern-books issued by J. Taylor’s Architectural Library, notably Architectural Sketches for Cottages, Rural Dwellings, and Villas (1805) and Plans and Views of Buildings Executed in England and Scotland (1828). In practice he designed villas, lodges, model farms and castellated country houses, mixing Tudor-Gothic, Grecian and “fancy” idioms. Among his best-known works are Balloch Castle, Loch Lomond (1808-09), and Cyfarthfa Castle, Merthyr Tydfil (1824-25) for ironmaster William Crawshay II.
Provenance: Contemporary ink inscription “Mrs Hutton, Gaywood” (Norfolk) on front free endpaper.

[Cat 163]