DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22422#0462
450
WINDSOR CASTLE.
Letter XXII.
Also, Lady Butts, Lady Mintas, and the next to her without a
name, are all of equal excellence.
For the rest of the drawings I must again recur to Passavant's
summary catalogue.
A volume of drawings hy Rubens and Vandyck contains
nothing remarkable.
In Swaneveldt's drawings wc trace the same style that
appeared in his etchings.
Two volumes of the French school, containing specimens of
Nicolas Poussin, I had not the good fortune to see.
The Plate-room.
I was kindly allowed to inspect the treasures of this room also.
The number of rich and magnificent vessels is very large, and
worthy of the sovereign of the richest nation in the world. The
number of works of art, properly so called, is very small. The
chef-d'oeuvre of the collection is the celebrated shield of Achilles,
most carefully executed in silver gilt, by Rundell and Bridge,
from Flaxman's model. The intelligent division of the subject,
the spirited conception, the abundance of beautiful motives, and
the very careful execution in the flatly treated relief's, render this
one of the most important works of the great master.
Another design by Flaxman, also executed by Rundell and
Bridge, deserves the utmost attention. In a relief, which, in point
of depth, approaches the round, is represented the Triumph of
Bacchus and Ariadne, with the car drawn by four centaurs. This
composition is imbued with the genuine spirit of the antique, the
execution very careful and masterly. Other vessels decorated
with figures in antique taste are also pretty, but not comparable
with the above-described.
A vessel of realistic taste, but very beautiful, is one decorated
with a greyhound and a setter, of exquisite truth and admirable
execution.
The armoury, also, which owes its existence to George IV.,
gave me great satisfaction. It contains the well-authenticated
swords of celebrated generals. The collection has been greatly
increased, and now exhibits a set of very artistically decorated
weapons.
WINDSOR CASTLE.
Letter XXII.
Also, Lady Butts, Lady Mintas, and the next to her without a
name, are all of equal excellence.
For the rest of the drawings I must again recur to Passavant's
summary catalogue.
A volume of drawings hy Rubens and Vandyck contains
nothing remarkable.
In Swaneveldt's drawings wc trace the same style that
appeared in his etchings.
Two volumes of the French school, containing specimens of
Nicolas Poussin, I had not the good fortune to see.
The Plate-room.
I was kindly allowed to inspect the treasures of this room also.
The number of rich and magnificent vessels is very large, and
worthy of the sovereign of the richest nation in the world. The
number of works of art, properly so called, is very small. The
chef-d'oeuvre of the collection is the celebrated shield of Achilles,
most carefully executed in silver gilt, by Rundell and Bridge,
from Flaxman's model. The intelligent division of the subject,
the spirited conception, the abundance of beautiful motives, and
the very careful execution in the flatly treated relief's, render this
one of the most important works of the great master.
Another design by Flaxman, also executed by Rundell and
Bridge, deserves the utmost attention. In a relief, which, in point
of depth, approaches the round, is represented the Triumph of
Bacchus and Ariadne, with the car drawn by four centaurs. This
composition is imbued with the genuine spirit of the antique, the
execution very careful and masterly. Other vessels decorated
with figures in antique taste are also pretty, but not comparable
with the above-described.
A vessel of realistic taste, but very beautiful, is one decorated
with a greyhound and a setter, of exquisite truth and admirable
execution.
The armoury, also, which owes its existence to George IV.,
gave me great satisfaction. It contains the well-authenticated
swords of celebrated generals. The collection has been greatly
increased, and now exhibits a set of very artistically decorated
weapons.