The Baronial Halls, and Ancient Picturesque Edifices of England; Vol. 1 of 2Hall, S. C. (Samuel Carter)
History
The Baronial Halls, and Ancient Picturesque Edifices of England; Vol. 1 of 2
Hall, S. C. (Samuel Carter)
Historic buildings -- England
The gorgeous Ball-room succeeds, fifty feet in length, twenty-eight in
width, and twenty-six in height. The walls are painted with historical
and other subjects by Laguerre. The candelabra, which are placed on
pedestals of japan gilt about two feet high, are truly splendid. Two of
them, placed by the sides of the lofty bow-window, are the figures of
Negroes kneeling, and supporting the lights on their heads. The Brown
Drawing-room, filled with pictures and a carved chimneypiece by Gibbons,
leads to the Black Bedchamber, so called from the hangings of the bed,
which are of black satin lined with yellow; the chimneypiece here is
also by Gibbons. The west Dressing-room has in the window recess a
toilette-table, set out with richly gilt dressing-plate. The north-west
Dressing-room is hung with pictures; indeed every one of the principal
rooms boasts of pictorial decoration, and among the profusion are many
fine examples of ancient art. In a small apartment called the China
Closet is an extensive gathering of varied specimens of antique Chinese,
and Indian porcelain. Queen Elizabeth’s Bed-room is hung with tapestry,
and contains an ancient state bed with hangings of green embossed
velvet, on a ground of gold tissue; with chairs to correspond. The
toilette-table is set out with richly chased dressing-plate. A number of
other apartments in this range follow, similarly furnished and adorned.
On the south side of the house there is another suite of grand
apartments called the George Rooms, which were decorated in 1789, under
the express direction and control of Brownlow, earl of Exeter, who
selected the whole of the ornaments from publications of ancient
architecture in the library at Burghley. His lordship directed the
whole, without the assistance of any professional person. The rooms are
wainscoted with the finest Dutch oak, of a natural colour; the ceilings
are mostly painted by Verrio, in mythological subjects; carving,
gilding, and tapestry, are profusely employed; the furniture is of
corresponding magnificence; and pictures, sculptures, and antiquities
are dispersed, to add to the general embellishment. The Dining-room
contains two superb sideboards laden with massive silver-gilt plate; a
silver cistern weighs 3400 ounces, and a lesser one 656 ounces: there
are also coronation dishes, ewers, &c. Two apartments are Libraries;
they are filled with many MSS., fine and rare books, antiquities, and an
extensive collection of ancient coins.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account