Part of the East Range at Downing College taken from across the quadrangle whilst Dad was busy inside, telling the lady from the Development team the better causes he has found to donate money to, rather than the college where he felt that he never fitted in.
This wing was built using Portland stone, between 1807 and 1821. Apparently, Sir George Downing, founder of the college (his grandfather gave the name to Downing Street ) commissioned the architect William Wilkins to design the first example of this kind of collegiate. The college should have been fully funded upon his death but there were legal challenges and complications regarding his will and by the time this was sorted out the funds were considerably depleated. Consequently, the buildings were completed piecemeal and slowly.
Very attractive college buildings and grounds - open to the public with a rather lovely little art gallery containing an exhibition by Stephen Chambers: The Court of Redonda.
Thank you for all your lovely comments about yesterdays post showing my Dad making his way across the quadrangle.
haha well good on your dad - i'm glad he was able to make his feelings known ;)
this is such a beautiful shot. it's the kind of image i'd like to have on my wall. i love the crisp detail of the gaily-saddled bike against that mellow stone with all the soft shades of brown and grey and yellow. there are clear layers in the bottom third, softened by the gentle strokes of the branches above. a triumph, in my view
The bike is perfectly placed beneath the window which has that little bit of colour in the window box. You can see the history in the stonework and the high door.
Instant fav. I saw this on the popular page and it took my breath for a moment. The composition and the softness are incredible. The bicycle just finishes it off. Love!
What elegant tones and composition, very pleasant with the almost no colour, but a little bit. Love the cover of the saddle of the bike, reminds me of my homeland and the bike I used to have.
@777margo thank you Margo. @pistache what kind words and generous analysis, thank you @fbailey thank you. I love the stonework too. @suzanne234 thank you so much Suzanne @onewing you are so right Babs, I think the emotions were mixed, but he is pleased he went @taffy the best part about Cambridge - there is always a cycle at hand to make a composition! @redandwhite thank you so much Catherine. @ethelperry we do have some very handsome buildings - and some pretty awful ones too. @judithdeacon thank you very much Judith. I thought I was following you but it seemed not. Have put that right! @Cherrill thank you so much for your suggestion I have had a go at adding a bit of vintage to a similar shot which I posted today. @yrhenwr you are certainly right about the lawyers winning, but I think in this instance the wife of one of the late sons took the money and ran. @jodies thank you Jodie for your kind words
@flowerfairyann these bikes to get into all the best places to enhance the pictures around Cambridge. @cristinaledesma33 thank you very much @granagringa your observation is much appreciated @carolmw thank you Carol @stownsend thank you so much for your visit and very kind words. So glad you like it. @ivan you will be recognising these scenes very well then Ivan. It is a lovely college to view - I have no idea about the quality of education. @stephanies thank you very much - I'm glad you like it @jerome I am glad you enjoy this Jerome. I can only begin to imagine the wonderful pictures you would come up with around Cambridge. Have you visited? @overalvandaan that is interesting that the bike is a reminder for you. It is true that the colourful saddle on the bike like this one is quite an unusual sight in UK.
You have quite the eye for an excellent composition, Helen! I agree with several other comments that this photo would be wonderful hanging on a wall. I think this one and your "Vintage Downing" photo would be fantastic on a wall as a pair. :-)
@janetb I'm honoured to read your comment. @kjarn thank you Kathy @summerfield a self portrait couldn't have been further from my mind. I was lucky to get the camera out at all really - it involved ignoring people who were trying to chat to us and be helpful! Also, I would have to have stepped on the lawn - a privilege only given to Fellowes. The porter had already made it clear that he would be after anyone found in disobedience.
April 13th, 2018
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this is such a beautiful shot. it's the kind of image i'd like to have on my wall. i love the crisp detail of the gaily-saddled bike against that mellow stone with all the soft shades of brown and grey and yellow. there are clear layers in the bottom third, softened by the gentle strokes of the branches above. a triumph, in my view
A familiar subject viewed and presented in an unusual way.
Love it.
@pistache what kind words and generous analysis, thank you
@fbailey thank you. I love the stonework too.
@suzanne234 thank you so much Suzanne
@onewing you are so right Babs, I think the emotions were mixed, but he is pleased he went
@taffy the best part about Cambridge - there is always a cycle at hand to make a composition!
@redandwhite thank you so much Catherine.
@ethelperry we do have some very handsome buildings - and some pretty awful ones too.
@judithdeacon thank you very much Judith. I thought I was following you but it seemed not. Have put that right!
@Cherrill thank you so much for your suggestion I have had a go at adding a bit of vintage to a similar shot which I posted today.
@yrhenwr you are certainly right about the lawyers winning, but I think in this instance the wife of one of the late sons took the money and ran.
@jodies thank you Jodie for your kind words
@flowerfairyann these bikes to get into all the best places to enhance the pictures around Cambridge.
@cristinaledesma33 thank you very much
@granagringa your observation is much appreciated
@carolmw thank you Carol
@stownsend thank you so much for your visit and very kind words. So glad you like it.
@ivan you will be recognising these scenes very well then Ivan. It is a lovely college to view - I have no idea about the quality of education.
@stephanies thank you very much - I'm glad you like it
@jerome I am glad you enjoy this Jerome. I can only begin to imagine the wonderful pictures you would come up with around Cambridge. Have you visited?
@overalvandaan that is interesting that the bike is a reminder for you. It is true that the colourful saddle on the bike like this one is quite an unusual sight in UK.
@kjarn thank you Kathy
@summerfield a self portrait couldn't have been further from my mind. I was lucky to get the camera out at all really - it involved ignoring people who were trying to chat to us and be helpful! Also, I would have to have stepped on the lawn - a privilege only given to Fellowes. The porter had already made it clear that he would be after anyone found in disobedience.