DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.59673#0025
9
tern, and to make the Tapestries more perfect or right-
handed, it required the Cartoons to be left-handed ; this, and
also the pin holes and other marks, will be found to exist in
the Cartoons at Hampton Palace. It may be here stated,
that the materials of this Tapestry are of the most rare and
curious description, and some component parts of it have
much puzzled scientific men.
The Cartoons were again used as patterns at Mortlake, and
when the tapestry factory was neglected in the troubles of
the civil war they were found carelessly packed away, and
intended to have been sold with Charles’s property; Crom-
well, no doubt, saw the use they might be applied to as
Tapestry patterns, and caused their purchase for £300.
That he obtained them, as being “ the most precious orna-
ments of the Palace,” could not be; for, as we find in the next
page of Mr. Cattermole’s book, “ the Cartoons were found
carelessly packed in boxes, having been cut into pieces for that
purpose •” and this is correct, except that they were not cut
' into pieces merely to pack in boxes; the cutting took place
at Brussels, when they were used as patterns. In this
e: wretched state” they remained until William III. caused
the repairs by Cooke: with all faults the price was very low,
still not very much out of proportion with the prices at which
many other works of art were then sold. Walpole states one
to have been valued at £40, twice sold afterwards at £1,000,
and subsequently in the Houghton Collection; the greatest
fraud and deception prevailed in regard to the valuation and
sale of the whole property.
We hear nothing further of the Cartoons until the reign of
Charles IL, when they were subject to further indignities;
for that monarch actually sold them to the ambassador of
France ! Lord Danby, however, stepped forward in favour
of the country, and prevented their being sent away; Charles,
for such meanness and folly, has with good reason been
called to account, and accused of treason to his country!
tern, and to make the Tapestries more perfect or right-
handed, it required the Cartoons to be left-handed ; this, and
also the pin holes and other marks, will be found to exist in
the Cartoons at Hampton Palace. It may be here stated,
that the materials of this Tapestry are of the most rare and
curious description, and some component parts of it have
much puzzled scientific men.
The Cartoons were again used as patterns at Mortlake, and
when the tapestry factory was neglected in the troubles of
the civil war they were found carelessly packed away, and
intended to have been sold with Charles’s property; Crom-
well, no doubt, saw the use they might be applied to as
Tapestry patterns, and caused their purchase for £300.
That he obtained them, as being “ the most precious orna-
ments of the Palace,” could not be; for, as we find in the next
page of Mr. Cattermole’s book, “ the Cartoons were found
carelessly packed in boxes, having been cut into pieces for that
purpose •” and this is correct, except that they were not cut
' into pieces merely to pack in boxes; the cutting took place
at Brussels, when they were used as patterns. In this
e: wretched state” they remained until William III. caused
the repairs by Cooke: with all faults the price was very low,
still not very much out of proportion with the prices at which
many other works of art were then sold. Walpole states one
to have been valued at £40, twice sold afterwards at £1,000,
and subsequently in the Houghton Collection; the greatest
fraud and deception prevailed in regard to the valuation and
sale of the whole property.
We hear nothing further of the Cartoons until the reign of
Charles IL, when they were subject to further indignities;
for that monarch actually sold them to the ambassador of
France ! Lord Danby, however, stepped forward in favour
of the country, and prevented their being sent away; Charles,
for such meanness and folly, has with good reason been
called to account, and accused of treason to his country!