Pablo Bronstein has created a series of drawings for Waddesdon Manor in Aylesbury, the former home of Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, which is now in the care of the National Trust. The drawings are based on the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.
This famous building, also known as the First Temple, stood for over 400 years before being destroyed by the Babylonians during the siege of Jerusalem led by King Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 BCE. The Temple was known to house the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the Ten Commandments. The Bible contains detailed instructions on the build – how big it should be, the layout and the materials used and how it should be decorated, but nobody knows what it actually looked like. For centuries, it has been reimagined by artists, designers, archaeologists, theorists, and ideologues.
Bronstein’s drawings are detailed studies showcasing his technical drawing abilities that include cross-sections, aerial plans, façade details, friezes, and columns for two versions of the Temple, as if submitted for the Prix de Rome, the 19th-century architecture prize in Paris. At first sight, they appear to adhere to Neo-Classical designs. Still, as you look closer, you become aware of Bronstein’s play with design details throughout the ages, even including the frieze pattern used on the iconic Anthora disposable coffee cup in New York, as well as the Paris Opera House designed by Charles Garnier. Two painted plaques feature the images of Michelangelo and William Blake, but are painted in the style of 19th-century French artist Puvis de Chavannes. Other references span history from the Egyptian, Greek, and Assyrian periods. All drawn with precision.
There is a striking single drawing of a candelabrum based on the Temple menorah. The Book of Exodus describes the menorah cups, which are shaped like almond blossoms, featuring a bulb and a flower, to hold the oil. Bronstein’s version is an 18th-century Rococo style, with seven branches emerging from a chinoiserie-style grotto representing the Tomb of the Patriarch Jacob, but he adheres to the almond-shaped cups.
A side room displays a selection of drawings and books from Waddesdon’s historic collection, selected by Pablo Bronstein. This selection of designs for altars and candelabra, furniture and panelling, rooms and religious ritual objects puts into perspective the design choices made by Bronstein in his Temple designs and the deep connection with Waddesdon Manor. Another display in the house features seven embroidered panels representing the first and second temples in Jerusalem. All of these items represent the painstaking research that Bronstein undertook of the house’s collection before creating his designs.
Waddesdon Manor was built at the end of the 19th century by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the style of a French château from the early 16th century. Baron Ferdinand was an avid collector, and the house was designed to house his collection of English and Dutch paintings, Sèvres porcelain and other decorative objects. It is lavishly decorated inside and out. Bronstein’s dialogue with the building becomes more evident as you tour the house. It is a shame that the exhibition is confined to a small room and not integrated into the house as other stately homes have done with their contemporary artist exhibitions, such as Blenheim Palace and Houghton Hall.
Pablo Bronstein: The Temple of Solomon and its Contents, Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP18 0JH, 16 July – 2 November 2025
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