DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22423#0019
Letter XXIII. EARL COWPEK'S COLLECTION.
7
English School,
Wilson.—An English landscape, with the remains of a volcanic
crater, is very interesting.
Sir Charles Eastlake.—Eight studies of classical localities
and monuments in Greece ; for instance, Corinth, the Erechtheum,
&c.: uniting a tasteful and true conception with admirable keep-
ing and a free and light treatment.
PANSHA\TGER, SEAT OE EARL COWPER.
In July, 1835,1 arrived at Hertford on my way to Panshanger.
Being favoured by the finest weather, I set out on foot, with a
guide, for this seat of the Earl of Cowper, who, as I mentioned
in page 17 of my second letter, has a very choice collection, con-
sisting chiefly of Italian pictures, most of which were purchased
by the grandfather of the present Earl, when ambassador at
Florence. The rather hilly ground, richly wooded, affords an
agreeable diversity of views. The town of Hertford lies very
picturesquely between hills of agreeable forms ; and here and
there I saw, at a distance, beautiful country-seats, situated on
eminences, to which my attendant drew my attention, telling me
the names of the owners. After walking through a part of the
fine park, I reached the mansion, and being provided, by the kind
intervention of the Duke of Sutherland, with a letter from Lady
Cowper to the housekeeper, all the rooms containing pictures were
opened to me, and I was then left to myself.
The coolness of these fine apartments, in which the pictures are
arranged with much taste, was very refreshing after my hot walk.
The drawing-room, especially, is one of those apartments which
not only give great pleasure by their size and elegance, but also
afford the most elevated gratification to the mind by works of art
of the noblest kind. This splendid apartment receives light
from three skylights, and from large windows at one of the ends ;
while the paintings of the Italian school are well relieved by the
crimson silk hangings. I cannot refrain from again praising the
refined taste of the English for thus adorning the rooms they
daily occupy, by which means they enjoy, from their youth up-
ward, the silent and slow but sure influence of works of art. I
passed here six happy hours in quiet solitude. The silence was
7
English School,
Wilson.—An English landscape, with the remains of a volcanic
crater, is very interesting.
Sir Charles Eastlake.—Eight studies of classical localities
and monuments in Greece ; for instance, Corinth, the Erechtheum,
&c.: uniting a tasteful and true conception with admirable keep-
ing and a free and light treatment.
PANSHA\TGER, SEAT OE EARL COWPER.
In July, 1835,1 arrived at Hertford on my way to Panshanger.
Being favoured by the finest weather, I set out on foot, with a
guide, for this seat of the Earl of Cowper, who, as I mentioned
in page 17 of my second letter, has a very choice collection, con-
sisting chiefly of Italian pictures, most of which were purchased
by the grandfather of the present Earl, when ambassador at
Florence. The rather hilly ground, richly wooded, affords an
agreeable diversity of views. The town of Hertford lies very
picturesquely between hills of agreeable forms ; and here and
there I saw, at a distance, beautiful country-seats, situated on
eminences, to which my attendant drew my attention, telling me
the names of the owners. After walking through a part of the
fine park, I reached the mansion, and being provided, by the kind
intervention of the Duke of Sutherland, with a letter from Lady
Cowper to the housekeeper, all the rooms containing pictures were
opened to me, and I was then left to myself.
The coolness of these fine apartments, in which the pictures are
arranged with much taste, was very refreshing after my hot walk.
The drawing-room, especially, is one of those apartments which
not only give great pleasure by their size and elegance, but also
afford the most elevated gratification to the mind by works of art
of the noblest kind. This splendid apartment receives light
from three skylights, and from large windows at one of the ends ;
while the paintings of the Italian school are well relieved by the
crimson silk hangings. I cannot refrain from again praising the
refined taste of the English for thus adorning the rooms they
daily occupy, by which means they enjoy, from their youth up-
ward, the silent and slow but sure influence of works of art. I
passed here six happy hours in quiet solitude. The silence was