The Stranger's Handbook to Chester and Its Environs: Containing a short sketch of its history and antiquities, a descriptive walk round the walls, and a visit to the cathedral, castle, and Eaton Hall.Hughes, Thomas
History
The Stranger's Handbook to Chester and Its Environs: Containing a short sketch of its history and antiquities, a descriptive walk round the walls, and a visit to the cathedral, castle, and Eaton Hall.
Hughes, Thomas
Chester (England) -- Guidebooks
From the ENTRANCE HALL we pass through the Gothic arch upon the left,
along the GREAT CORRIDOR,—a handsome gallery, near five hundred feet in
length, enriched with numerous portraits of the Grosvenor family, as well
as a recumbent statue, in marble, of a _Sleeping Bacchante_,—to the
private or DOMESTIC CHAPEL of the mansion. This is reached by a short
gallery to the left, the two gothic windows of which are adorned with
medallions of _The Resurrection_ and the _Madonna_, in richly stained
glass. The CHAPEL, which measures about 40 × 30 feet, has a handsome
groined roof, tastefully relieved with floriated bosses and circular
finials, adorned with sacred monograms and other devices. The light of
day shines into the Chapel through three rich pointed windows, upon the
west side, each filled with stained glass of pristine beauty. In the
centres of these we see eighteen vesica-shaped medallions, depicting
scenes and events in the life of Our Blessed Lord, viz., in the left-hand
window,—“The Annunciation,” “The Virgin and Child,” “The Wise Men of the
East,” “The Shepherds Watching,” “The Presentation in the Temple,” and
“The Flight into Egypt.” In the right-hand window we have—“Christ giving
Sight to the Blind,” “Blessing Little Children,” “Raising the Dead
Lazarus,” “The Woman of Samaria,” “The Baptism of Christ,” and “Christ
Walking on the Sea.” The subjects in the centre window are—“The Last
Supper,” “The Agony in the Garden,” “Christ bearing His Cross,” “The
Angel declaring the Resurrection,” “Christ appearing to Mary,” and “The
Ascension.” Contrary to usual ecclesiastical rule, the reading-desk and
communion-table, of carved oak, are at the south end of the Chapel. Near
by is the stall of the noble Marquis, which, together with the rest of
the seats, is of oak, appropriately carved, under the superintendence of
Mr. Morison, then clerk of the works, but now permanently employed by
Lord Westminster in a higher capacity. On the north wall formerly hung
the painting now decorating the east side, representing “St. Michael’s
Contest with the Dragon,” a copy by Evans from the original by Guido. A
handsome window has recently been introduced into the north wall, and
filled with embossed fleur-de-lys quarries of plate-glass, producing an
admirable effect. Over the communion-table we perceive Weiser’s spirited
copy of Rubens’ “Descent from the Cross.” The servants’ entrance is by
another door upon the left, leading away to their apartments on the
basement story.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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