DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22424#0289
Letter V.
SIR CULLING EARDLEY'S COLLECTION.
275
LETTER V.
Sir Culling Eardley's collection, Belvedere — Collection of Rev. John Fuller
Russell, Greenhithe— Mr. Foster's collection, Clevrer Manor — Mr. San-
ders' collection, Taplow House — Mr. Walter's collection, Bearwood —
Objects of art at Aldermaston — Mr. Morrison's pictures, Basildon Park.
COLLECTION OF PICTURES BELONGING TO SIR CULLING
EARDLEY, BART.,
Belvedere, near Erith.
This is one of the most pleasing country seats I have seen in
England, which is no small praise in a land which surpasses all
others in the number and beauty of its country residences. The
park is extensive, and varied with undulating ground and fine
trees, but the peculiar charm of Belvedere consists in the view
over the Thames, with the full traffic of vessels passing to and fro
below the great capital. The contrast between this solitude of
refreshing verdure, and the world's great thoroughfares seen from
it, is very striking and poetical. The society of Sir Culling and
his family, and the interesting nature of the pictures, some of
which are of a high class, and many very remarkable, only made
me the more regret that my time did not permit me to avail
myself of the hospitality with which I was pressed to stay longer.
The pictures comprise the Italian, Spanish, French, Nether-
landish, and English schools. I take them in the order in which
they are arranged in the different rooms :—
the drawing-room.
Murillo.—1. The Assumption of the Virgin : the Madonna,
a noble and graceful figure in a white dress, finely relieved by her
dark blue mantle, is soaring upwards upon a crescent, with her
eyes fixed in ecstasy above. Although the individuality of the
features indicates realistic taste, yet the head is of great purity
and unusual elevation of character. Four cherubim are near the
crescent, and four angels on the right, one of whom holds a palm,
t 2
SIR CULLING EARDLEY'S COLLECTION.
275
LETTER V.
Sir Culling Eardley's collection, Belvedere — Collection of Rev. John Fuller
Russell, Greenhithe— Mr. Foster's collection, Clevrer Manor — Mr. San-
ders' collection, Taplow House — Mr. Walter's collection, Bearwood —
Objects of art at Aldermaston — Mr. Morrison's pictures, Basildon Park.
COLLECTION OF PICTURES BELONGING TO SIR CULLING
EARDLEY, BART.,
Belvedere, near Erith.
This is one of the most pleasing country seats I have seen in
England, which is no small praise in a land which surpasses all
others in the number and beauty of its country residences. The
park is extensive, and varied with undulating ground and fine
trees, but the peculiar charm of Belvedere consists in the view
over the Thames, with the full traffic of vessels passing to and fro
below the great capital. The contrast between this solitude of
refreshing verdure, and the world's great thoroughfares seen from
it, is very striking and poetical. The society of Sir Culling and
his family, and the interesting nature of the pictures, some of
which are of a high class, and many very remarkable, only made
me the more regret that my time did not permit me to avail
myself of the hospitality with which I was pressed to stay longer.
The pictures comprise the Italian, Spanish, French, Nether-
landish, and English schools. I take them in the order in which
they are arranged in the different rooms :—
the drawing-room.
Murillo.—1. The Assumption of the Virgin : the Madonna,
a noble and graceful figure in a white dress, finely relieved by her
dark blue mantle, is soaring upwards upon a crescent, with her
eyes fixed in ecstasy above. Although the individuality of the
features indicates realistic taste, yet the head is of great purity
and unusual elevation of character. Four cherubim are near the
crescent, and four angels on the right, one of whom holds a palm,
t 2