DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22422#0155
Letter XVI.
LANSDOWNE HOUSE.
143
LETTER XVI.
Lansdowne House : Antique busts—Grand saloon—German music—Antique
sculpture — Pictures. — Collection of the Marquis of Hertford: Italian
school — Spanish school — French school — Flemish school — English
school. — The Grosvenor Gallery : Altar-piece by Roger Van der Weyden
the elder — Large pictures by Rubens ■—■ Flemish and Dutch schools —
Italian school — School of the Carracci — Other Italian masters — French
school — Spanish school — English school. — Mr. Baring's collection : Flo-
rentine school — Umbrian and Eoman schools — Ferrarese and Lombard
schools — Venetian school — Bolognese school — Neapolitan school —■
Spanish school — French school ■— Dutch school — English school ■—
Modem English school — Modern Belgian, Dutch, and French schools.
LANSDOWNE HOUSE.
Through the kindness of Mr. Rogers I have been favoured with
an introduction to the Marquis of Lansdowne. I found in him, in
an uncommon degree, that union of refinement with simplicity and
natural benevolence which is so winning in persons of rank. But
in a conversation upon art his lordship showed such an elevated
and cultivated taste, and such general knowledge of the subject,
as is seldom met with in England or elsewhere. He showed
an equally warm interest in the art of sculpture, and in the differ-
ent developments of painting in the earlier forms, of which he
duly appreciated the profound intellectual value. Lansdowne House
is one of the few in London which, being situated in a garden sur-
rounded with walls, unites the advantages of the most fashionable
neighbourhood with a certain retirement. Immediately on enter-
ing the hall you perceive that the more elevated worship of art is
not wanting; for, antique statues, bas-reliefs, and busts, though,
with the exception of an ancient Egyptian statue, mostly of later
times, and more or less restored, crowd upon the eye and make
a very picturesque effect. On the staircase, too, the Triumph of
Bacchus, a late Roman alto-rilievo, is let into the wall. In the
library the interest increases: the space above the mantelpiece is
adorned by an alto-rilievo of an iEsculapius, the size of life, of
very good workmanship : the same may be said of an antique
female statue. Among eighteen busts I was more particularly
struck by the following:—A Greek philosopher; a Vitellius, in
LANSDOWNE HOUSE.
143
LETTER XVI.
Lansdowne House : Antique busts—Grand saloon—German music—Antique
sculpture — Pictures. — Collection of the Marquis of Hertford: Italian
school — Spanish school — French school — Flemish school — English
school. — The Grosvenor Gallery : Altar-piece by Roger Van der Weyden
the elder — Large pictures by Rubens ■—■ Flemish and Dutch schools —
Italian school — School of the Carracci — Other Italian masters — French
school — Spanish school — English school. — Mr. Baring's collection : Flo-
rentine school — Umbrian and Eoman schools — Ferrarese and Lombard
schools — Venetian school — Bolognese school — Neapolitan school —■
Spanish school — French school ■— Dutch school — English school ■—
Modem English school — Modern Belgian, Dutch, and French schools.
LANSDOWNE HOUSE.
Through the kindness of Mr. Rogers I have been favoured with
an introduction to the Marquis of Lansdowne. I found in him, in
an uncommon degree, that union of refinement with simplicity and
natural benevolence which is so winning in persons of rank. But
in a conversation upon art his lordship showed such an elevated
and cultivated taste, and such general knowledge of the subject,
as is seldom met with in England or elsewhere. He showed
an equally warm interest in the art of sculpture, and in the differ-
ent developments of painting in the earlier forms, of which he
duly appreciated the profound intellectual value. Lansdowne House
is one of the few in London which, being situated in a garden sur-
rounded with walls, unites the advantages of the most fashionable
neighbourhood with a certain retirement. Immediately on enter-
ing the hall you perceive that the more elevated worship of art is
not wanting; for, antique statues, bas-reliefs, and busts, though,
with the exception of an ancient Egyptian statue, mostly of later
times, and more or less restored, crowd upon the eye and make
a very picturesque effect. On the staircase, too, the Triumph of
Bacchus, a late Roman alto-rilievo, is let into the wall. In the
library the interest increases: the space above the mantelpiece is
adorned by an alto-rilievo of an iEsculapius, the size of life, of
very good workmanship : the same may be said of an antique
female statue. Among eighteen busts I was more particularly
struck by the following:—A Greek philosopher; a Vitellius, in