The Stately Homes of EnglandJewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
History
The Stately Homes of England
Jewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
Historic buildings -- England
The SKETCH-GALLERY, which, as we have said, occupies the south and a
part of the west side, contains perhaps the most choice and extensive
collection of original drawings by the old masters in any private
collection, embracing the Italian, French, Flemish, Venetian, Spanish,
and other schools; and containing matchless examples of Raffaelle,
Michael Angelo, Albert Dürer, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, Leonardo da
Vinci, Poussin, Claude, Salvator Rosa, Correggio, Luca Signorelli,
Andrea del Sarto, Lo Spagna, Giulio Romano, Caravaggio, Zucchero,
Andrea Mantegna, Parmigiano, Giorgione, Giulio Campagnola, Paul
Veronese, the Carracci, Guido Reni, Domenichino, Guercino, Holbein,
Lucas Cranach, Lucas Van Leyden, Vandyke, Van der Velde, Jan Miel, and
indeed of almost every well-known name. The collection was formed by
the second Duke of Devonshire at considerable cost; the nucleus being
purchased at Rotterdam. Among those by Michael Angelo are a study for
the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel; some spirited studies of figures
for the same ceiling; and a Virgin and Child. By Leonardo da Vinci a
fine head of the Virgin. By Raffaelle are the sketch for the picture
by Pinturicchio at Sienna, of “Æneas Silvius kissing the foot of Pope
Eugenius IV. at the Council of Basle;” the figure of St. Paul for the
cartoon of “The Sacrifice at Lystra;” “St. Catherine,” the original
sketch for the picture now in the National Gallery; “the Virgin and
Child;” “Joseph discovering himself to his Brethren;” and others. By
Holbein, some of the finest known examples, including “the Fall of
Phaeton,” “the Last Judgment,” “Hagar and Ishmael,” “Diana and Actæon,”
and others. By Albert Dürer several fine examples. Altogether the
collection is the most remarkable in any mansion.
[Illustration: _Vista of the State Apartments._]
The State-apartments, which are entered from this Gallery, consist of a
splendid suite of rooms, occupying the entire length of the building.
The entrance is through a small apartment around the walls of which
is arranged a fine collection of examples of Ceramic Art, including
many good specimens of the more famous English and foreign makes.
These were, in great measure, removed here from the Duke’s villa at
Chiswick. Adjoining this, at the south-west angles, is—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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