Commissioned as Artist in Residence at Felbrigg Hall by the National Trust, Gloria in Excess responds to the life and legacy of William Windham II, a figure defined by indulgence, curiosity, and spectacle.

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Known as “The Maker,” Windham’s Grand Tour acquisitions reshaped the house into a site of ambition and excess. His life, documented through collections and archives, reveals a fascination with experimentation, risk, and theatrical display.

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At the centre of this work is the story of his ill-fated fireworks workshop, an extravagant pursuit that ended in an explosion, causing significant damage to the estate. Installed within The Turns, the sculptural intervention captures the suspended moment just before detonation: a scene charged with anticipation, danger, and spectacle.

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Drawing directly from Windham’s own library, particularly 'Traité des feux d’artifice pour le spectacle et pour la guerre' the work translates historical diagrams into carved form. These instructional illustrations, detailing both the mechanics and aesthetics of fireworks, are reimagined through hand-carved oak taken from the Felbrigg estate itself.

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Additional sculptural elements are positioned throughout the house, responding to Windham’s passions through precise site-specific placement, embedding narrative within the architecture.

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Balancing historical research with material sensitivity, Gloria in Excess reflects on authorship, obsession, and the fine line between creation and destruction.

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Photography by Paul Samuel White