DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22421#0099
Letter
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS.
35
step has been taken for the encouragement of art as connected
with industry, by the institution of Schools of Design, all of which
has taken place since 1835.
On the other hand, as regards the collecting of works of art of
various descriptions, the taste and munificence of private indi-
viduals has in no way during that time fallen short of that of the
Government. For though, in the nature of things, private must
yield to public patronage in the acquisition of the larger speci-
mens of sculpture, of objects of antiquity, vases, and coins, yet in
that of illuminated MSS. it stands almost on the same level—in
that of drawings surpasses it—and as regards pictures has utterly
outstripped it. A short summary of the various collections which
have arisen, or, at all events, been greatly increased, since 1835,
will prove what I have advanced.
Among the collections of pictures, that of the Marquis of Hert-
ford unquestionably takes the first place, consisting of a series of
chef d'oeuvrcs, gathered together at the (for a private individual)
incredible sum of 200,000Z. The majority of these, it is true, are
of that class of art till lately most popular in England ; some,
however, are of the epoch of Raphael.
Next in order may be taken Mr. Holford's gallery, in the
collection of which a far greater universality of taste has been
displayed, consisting, as it does, not only of the favourite Nether-
landish and Italian masters of the 17th century, but also of
Italian pictures of the golden age of art. This is worthily suc-
ceeded by the collections of the same enlightened class of Messrs.
Tomlin, Baring, and Munro.
A few but good pictures of the Italian schools are also in the
possession of Mr. John Harford, and of the Earl of Malmesbury.
Various collections also exist, extending not only to the Italian
schools of the 15th century, but even to the Netherlandish and
German schools of the same period ;—a taste formerly unknown
in England. Of such class are the collections of H.R.H. Prince
Albert, of Lord Ward, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Fuller Maitland,
Mr. Alexander Barker, and Lord Elcho. Others unite even the
Italian forms of art of the 14th century, such, for instance, as
the collections of Mr. Davenport Bromley, and of the Rev. Mr.
Fuller Russell. Finally, some collectors have especially devoted
themselves to the old Netherlandish and German schools alone,
d 2
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS.
35
step has been taken for the encouragement of art as connected
with industry, by the institution of Schools of Design, all of which
has taken place since 1835.
On the other hand, as regards the collecting of works of art of
various descriptions, the taste and munificence of private indi-
viduals has in no way during that time fallen short of that of the
Government. For though, in the nature of things, private must
yield to public patronage in the acquisition of the larger speci-
mens of sculpture, of objects of antiquity, vases, and coins, yet in
that of illuminated MSS. it stands almost on the same level—in
that of drawings surpasses it—and as regards pictures has utterly
outstripped it. A short summary of the various collections which
have arisen, or, at all events, been greatly increased, since 1835,
will prove what I have advanced.
Among the collections of pictures, that of the Marquis of Hert-
ford unquestionably takes the first place, consisting of a series of
chef d'oeuvrcs, gathered together at the (for a private individual)
incredible sum of 200,000Z. The majority of these, it is true, are
of that class of art till lately most popular in England ; some,
however, are of the epoch of Raphael.
Next in order may be taken Mr. Holford's gallery, in the
collection of which a far greater universality of taste has been
displayed, consisting, as it does, not only of the favourite Nether-
landish and Italian masters of the 17th century, but also of
Italian pictures of the golden age of art. This is worthily suc-
ceeded by the collections of the same enlightened class of Messrs.
Tomlin, Baring, and Munro.
A few but good pictures of the Italian schools are also in the
possession of Mr. John Harford, and of the Earl of Malmesbury.
Various collections also exist, extending not only to the Italian
schools of the 15th century, but even to the Netherlandish and
German schools of the same period ;—a taste formerly unknown
in England. Of such class are the collections of H.R.H. Prince
Albert, of Lord Ward, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Fuller Maitland,
Mr. Alexander Barker, and Lord Elcho. Others unite even the
Italian forms of art of the 14th century, such, for instance, as
the collections of Mr. Davenport Bromley, and of the Rev. Mr.
Fuller Russell. Finally, some collectors have especially devoted
themselves to the old Netherlandish and German schools alone,
d 2