Joseph Bonomi the Elder

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Joseph Bonomi the Elder (19 January 1739 - 9 March 1808) was an Italian architect and draughtsman notable for his activity in England.

Born in Rome, he made his early reputation there, then moved to London in 1767.

He worked from 1768 until 1781 in the practice of Robert and James Adam before setting up his own business. Notable works include:

• Parts of Towneley Hall near Burnley in Lancashire
• Barrells Hall, near Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
• Packington Hall Chapel, Warwickshire
• A mausoleum at Blickling Park, Norfolk
• Piercefield House in Monmouthshire
• Remodelling of Stanstead Park, West Sussex (with James Wyatt)
• Alterations to Hatchlands Park, near Guildford, Surrey
• Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory, Warwick Street, St James's, London (1789-1790)
• Laverstoke House, Laverstoke, Hampshire (1798)
• Sections of Lambton Castle, near Washington, Co Durham
• Longford Hall in Shropshire

In 1775 he married a cousin of Angelica Kauffmann. In 1789, he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy, and from that time constantly exhibited architectural drawings. In 1804 he was appointed architect of St. Peter's at Rome. He died in London in 1808. He was the father of Ignatius Bonomi (1787-1870), also an architect, and of Joseph Bonomi the Younger (1796-1878), who became an eminent sculptor, artist and Egyptologist.

[edit] References

• Bryan, Michael (1886). in Robert Edmund Graves: Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, Biographical and Critical (Volume I: A-K). York St. #4, Covent Garden, London; Original from Fogg Library, Digitized May 18, 2007: George Bell and Sons, page 155.