The Grand Designer

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In the first modern biography of one of the Victorian age’s greatest figures, the story of a wealthy eccentric’s learning, insight, and kindness is told. When John Crichton-Stuart, the third Marquess of Bute, met the renowned Gothic designer William Burges, it marked the start of a lifetime’s collaboration with architects and artists. This fascinating biography tells how Crichton-Stuart’s contributions as a patron produced extraordinary results in architecture, from the High Victorian Gothic exuberance of Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch to the ostentation of Mount Stuart and the sumptuous restoration of the Renaissance Falkland Palace. With spectacular illustrations, this book will enthrall those interested in architecture, Victorian philanthropy, and Scottish culture.