FINE ARTS.
NASIrS OLD ENGLISH MANSIONS, THIRD SERIES.
Tin Third Volume of Mr. JOSEPH Nam's reanimations of the Man- sions of England in the Olden Time in every way sustains the character and interest of this popular work ; the rarity and richness of the ex-
am i
ex- amples, and the lively and picturesque style n which they are deline- ated, being no whit inferior to the preceding volumes. The materials, so far from being exhausted, seem to grow under the artist's hands : "every successive journey," says Mr. NASH, "has made me acquainted with unlooked-for relics of the architectural splendour of the old baronial halls and manor-houses." The present volume contains seve- ral of the most magnificent edifices of the Elizabethan ara—includings Burleigh, Hatfield, Wollaton, Montacute, and Cranborne, and some curious structures of earlier date, where the Gothic style predominates— such as Compton Wynyate, Athelhampton, and the older portions of Hampton Court : it also embraces one of the earliest existing specimens of our domestic architecture Bramhall, which is assigned to the period of EDWARD the Fourth; and one of the latest date of any yet introduced into the work, Aldermaston, built in the style of CHARLES the First's reign; "which may be characterized," says Mr. Nesa, "as a loose old florid imitation, marking the decline of the more precise and decided character of the style of James the First."
Though the selection of subjects is limited to such portions of exist- ing edifices as still retain their original character, the artist so skilfully presents the venerable features as to convey a pretty correct idea of the whole building as it formerly appeared ; not only keeping out of view the defaced and modernized parts, but investing the place with characteristic attributes of a past age. Thus the architectural details while they form essential and prominent points of the picture, are made to subserve the higher purpose of representing ancient habits and customs; and in looking through these views, we have a succession of scenes that carry us back to the domestic life of our ancestors, and exhibit their private recreations and ceremonial state on public occa- sions. In this consists the great charm of the work ; not only the form, but the spirit of the olden time" is preserved. Mr. Naaa's fancy and feeling are truly English; and the physiognomies of the groups as well as their costumes and occupations, bear the stamp of nationt:Feharaeter.
The principal court of Burleigh, with its columns arches, and obelisk- spires of cinque-cento, is traversed by Queen Elizabeth and her train; and the great Lord Treasurer, in his robes, accompanied by a fine old warrior in armour, is descending its curious staircase, the only portion otthe interior nnmodernized. The garden-front of Wollaton presents a fall view of the most ornamental of the four facades of this stately pile ; the unity and elegant proportions of which, however, are destroyed by the huge central tower, of uncouth design, not in accordance with the rest of,the building, which it seems to crush rather than exalt. In the hall, which occupies the whole area of the monster tower, and is remarkable for its immense height, the table is laid for a banquet ; and the guests, who were seen scattered among the parterres in the exterior view, are here assembling—some crossing the lofty gallery above the screen, others entering the hall. The elegant porch of Cranborne, and the ter- race-arcade at the top of a flight of steps leading from the garden, both beautiful examples of the combination of Italian and English architec- ture, are peopled with dames and cavaliers in the graceful costumes of CHARLES the First's reign. The long gallery at Hatfield is filled with a courtly party in the quaint and sumptuous costumes of the time, assembled at the christening of Lord Salisbury's son, to whom King JA.MES the First stood godfather; and the Royal sponsor is in the act of presenting the infant with a set of "Apostle spoons," a fashion that succeeded to the donation of "christening shirts ": some godfathers presented only one spoon, its handle carved with the Apostle after 'whom the. child was named ; others gave the four Evangelists, and a few of the wealthier sort the whole twelve. Of Montacute only the porch of the western front is given ; it being of earlier date than the rest of the edifice, and a superb specimen of the Italianized Gothic of HENRY the Eighth's reign : the carious old coach driving up to the door, and the Yeomen Guards stationed on each side, denote a Royal visiter. Over this door, though not legible in the print, is inscribed And yours, my friends," a sentence of noble simplicity expressive of the munificent spirit of the founder, Sir EDWARD Primes, one of the Sergeants-at-Arms to Queen ELIZABETH; who expended 19,500/. on the building. Another inscription, over the east door, is of still more com- prehensive hospitality- .' Through this wide opening gate
Noue come toe early, none return too late."
Two of the most elaborate and interesting plates in the volume are the hall and presence-chamber of WOLSEi, at Hampton Court ; which exemplify the state and pomp of the Cardinal, as well as his fine taste in architecture : in the hall, the haughty Prelate, attended by his train, is receiving some courtiers ; and in the presence-chamber he is entertaining the French Ambassador with the magnificent banquet recorded by CavEsinign. In the hall at Parham, a party in the cos- tume of CHA.RLES the Second's reign are playing at battledore. That of Penshurst is bright with the blaze of the fire on its hearth in the centre of the floor, and alive with the rude Chrismas gambols of the household ; the Yule log is being brought in, and the noble hosts and their guests have entered to see the sports. In the hall of Athel- hampton, the domestics are playing at the old game of hoodman-blind ; and in that of Compton Wynyate, an offending servant is set in the "thumb-stocks." The richly-decorated ceilings of the gallery at Lan- hydroc, and the dining-rooms at Chastelton and Dorfeld, are conspi- cuous ornaments of the respective plates ; the furniture, fittings, and costumes being of corresponding character. The exteriors of Athelhampton and Compton Wynyate, true pic- turesque specimens of the pure old English style of domestic archi- tecture, are enlivened, the one by a party of retainers practising with the sword and buckler, the other with knights tilting at the quintain. Compton Wynyate, or Compton-in-the-Hole as it is called by the country-people, which Mr. Nam describes to be "a perfect specimen of the moated mansion of the fifteenth century," is scarcely known ; owing to its secluded situation buried in a deep hollow and surrounded by trees, on the Southern border of Warwick- shire, remote from any town, and with no regular road to it: but it is particularly deserving of the visits of the curious, and has not escaped Willaest Howirr's observation. Bramhall, with its chequered walls of black beams and white plaster, and its latticed windows extending all across the front, is a fine specimen of the half-timbered houses of Cheshire and the neighbouring counties : its small hall and drawing- room have richly-ornamented ceilings, and spacious bay-windows with stained glass exhibit the cognizance of EDWARD the Fourth. The few plates executed in the new process of lithotint are remarkable for clearness and smoothness of execution ; the tints are liquid and transparent, and represent the solidity of wood and stone and the light and air of space with equal power. In depicting daylight Mr. Nssa is extremely happy : this excellence contributes to the vivacity of the in- teriors, and removes all appearance of forced artificial effects. The ex- ecution of two or three of the plates is somewhat slovenly : the negli- gence consists not in omitting details of form, which are given with complete mastery, but in the masses of tint. Wolsey's Hall, for in- stance, is blurred and indistinct—a great contrast to the brightness and crispness of the majority of the crayon drawings. Mr. Nam intimates his intention of continuing the work, in cense- pence of the great encouragement it has met with ; and he proposes to include all the most remarkable relics of old English domestic architec- ture. In exploring remote districts, he should not overlook the Metro- polis and its vicinity. The halls of the Inns of Court, any more than those of Corporations and Universities' do not perhaps come strictly under the denomination of dwellings ; but Westminster Hall, the halls of Lambeth and Eltham Palaces, and the Charter-house, though pala- tial in character, were built and used as residences, and are therefore admissible.
Previous page
