Editing Royal Pavilion (section)

==History==
The Prince of Wales, who later became George IV, first visited Brighton in 1783, at the age of 21. The seaside town had become fashionable as a result of the residence of George's uncle, [[Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn|Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland]], whose tastes for fine cuisine, gambling, the theatre, and general fast living the young prince shared, and with whom he lodged in Brighton at Grove House. In addition, the Prince of Wales was advised by his physician that the seawater and fresh air would be beneficial for his [[gout]]. In 1786, under a financial cloud with investigations by Parliament for the extravagances incurred in building [[Carlton House]], London, the prince rented a modest, erstwhile farmhouse facing the [[Old Steine]], a grassy area of Brighton used as a promenade by visitors. Remote from the royal court in London, the pavilion was a discreet location for the prince to enjoy private liaisons with his long-time companion, [[Maria Fitzherbert]]. The prince had wished to marry her, and did so in secrecy as her [[Roman Catholic]] religion prohibited his marrying her under the [[Royal Marriages Act 1772]].

[[Image:Brighton Banqueting Room Nash edited.jpg|left|thumb|The richly decorated Banqueting Room at the Royal Pavilion, from [[John Nash (architect)|John Nash]]'s ''Views of the Royal Pavilion'' (1826)]]
[[Image:Brighton Pavilion (18814891875).jpg|left|thumb|The ceiling of the Music Room at the Royal Pavilion]]
[[Image:Brighton Grand Saloon from Nash's Views edited.jpg|right|thumb|Grand Saloon at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton from John Nash's Views of the Royal Pavilion (1826)]]

In 1787, the prince commissioned the designer of Carlton House, [[Henry Holland (architect)|Henry Holland]], to enlarge the existing building. It became one wing of the '''Marine Pavilion,''' flanking a central rotunda, which contained three main rooms: a breakfast room, dining room, and library, fitted out in Holland's French-influenced [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical style]], with decorative paintings by [[Biagio Rebecca]]. In 1801–02, the pavilion was enlarged with a new dining room and conservatory, to designs of [[Peter Frederick Robinson]], who worked in Holland's office. The Prince also purchased land surrounding the property, on which a grand riding school and stables were built in an Indian style in 1803–08, to designs by [[William Porden]], along with a famous onion garden to feed the Prince's well-known addiction. These provided stabling for 60 horses and dwarfed the Marine Pavilion.<ref>David Beevers, ed., ''The Royal Pavilion, Brighton: Souvenir Guide and Catalogue'' 2008:5.</ref>

Between 1815 and 1822, the designer [[John Nash (architect)|John Nash]] redesigned and greatly extended the pavilion, and it is his work that is still visible today.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/becoming-modern/romanticism/england-constable-turner/a/john-nash-royal-pavilion-brighton|title=Khan Academy|website=Khan Academy|language=en|access-date=6 July 2017}}</ref> The palace is striking in the middle of Brighton, for its unique [[Indo-Islamic architecture|Indo-Islamic]] exterior. The fanciful interior design, primarily by [[Frederick Crace]] and the little-known decorative painter Robert Jones, was heavily influenced by both Chinese and Indian fashion (with [[Mughal architecture|Mughal]] and [[Islamic architecture|Islamic]] [[architecture|architectural]] elements). The architectural design of the Royal Pavilion has drawn comparisons to the [[Taj Mahal]] due to its prominent onion domes, minarets, and Indo-Saracenic influences. While the Taj Mahal is a Mughal mausoleum built in the 17th century, the Pavilion was designed in the early 19th century by John Nash as a seaside retreat for [[King George IV]]. Despite their different historical and cultural contexts, the Pavilion's exterior bears a visual resemblance to the iconic Indian monument, reflecting the 19th-century British fascination with South Asian architecture.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/6-taj-mahal-replicas-you-never-knew-existed/photostory/107855611.cms|title=6 Taj Mahal replicas|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> It is a prime example of the exoticism that was an alternative to more classicising mainstream taste in the [[Regency style]].