The Baronial Halls, and Ancient Picturesque Edifices of England; Vol. 2 of 2Hall, S. C. (Samuel Carter)
History
The Baronial Halls, and Ancient Picturesque Edifices of England; Vol. 2 of 2
Hall, S. C. (Samuel Carter)
Historic buildings -- England
artist little known in this country, but of high repute in his own: he
was a pupil of Albert Durer. Nothing can exceed the finish and exquisite
colouring of this lovely picture. There is also a “_Holy Family_,” by
Albert Durer; the head of the Virgin is beautiful. “_The Flight into
Egypt_,” by N.Poussin; a portrait of Marie de Medici by Tintoretto; and
the celebrated masterpiece of Lancret, so often engraved, of “_The
Dancing Group_.” There is also a charming bit by Charles le Brun; a
portrait of Edward VI., given by him to Sir William Lytton; an
“_Oriental Fair_,” finely painted, the artist unknown; a
“_Battle-piece_” by Wouvermans; a landscape by Salvator Rosa, “_Acis and
Galatea_;” and four full-length family portraits connected with the
genealogical decorations of the apartments.
The furniture throughout this suite corresponds with the antiquity of
the apartments and character of the decorations, comprising some rare
and genuine examples of the taste of our forefathers. There are, in
particular, two tables in ivory and ebony of the reign of Henry VIII.;
two cabinets in oak and gold of that of Henry VII.; an early Venetian
table of extreme beauty; and several chairs in the old Genoese cloth of
gold, as fresh as if wrought but yesterday. Here are also two of the
ivory and gold chairs formerly belonging to Tippoo Saib, presented by
Lord Wellesley to Queen Charlotte, and sold after her death; and some
fine specimens of sculpture on marble pedestals: the “_Laura_” of
Canova; the “_Mercury_,” and “_Shepherd’s Boy_” of Thorwaldsen; the
“_Flora_” of Gibson, presented to Sir Edward by that exquisite artist;
and the busts of the four Italian poets, Petrarch, Ariosto, Dante, and
Tasso, in alabaster. At the end of the old Presence Chamber formerly ran
the Picture Gallery, removed by Mrs. Bulwer Lytton. The suite now
terminates by a stained glass window, on which is painted the
full-length of Henry VII. with the subjoined inscription:--
“_King Henry the VII., to whose blood are akin the heirs of Sir Robert
de Lytton of Knebworth, K.B., Privy Councillor and Keeper of the Great
Wardrobe, A.D. 1508; 1st. by Margret Beauchamp, from whom descended Anne
St. John, wife of Sir Rowland Lytton, temp. Elizabeth. 2dly. by Anne,
sister of Sir Owen Tudor and wife of Sir William Norreys, temp. Henry
VII., from whom descended William Robinson Lytton, temp. Anne._”
The chimneypiece is a beautiful Gothic specimen of carved stone gilt and
blazoned, with the following punning motto on the frieze,--“_A Dieu foy,
aulx amys foyer._”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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