NEW

NEW COLLEG E.

EW College is fituated caft of the Schools and the Theatre, and is feparated from Queen's College only by a narrow lane. It is dedicated to St. Mary Winton, and has been called New College from its firft foundation, being at that time highly regarded for its extent and grandeur.

We enter this college by a portal, leading into the first court, which is a quadrangle of about 168 feet long, and 129 broad, with a ftatue of Minerva in the middle of it. This court, as built at the foundation of the College, was low, with narrow arched tranfom windows, in the fashion of the times. But foon after the Restoration of King Charles II. another ftory was added over the old building, and the windows altered to their prefent form. The magnificent Gothic building on the north fide is the Chapel and the Hall; on the east the Library; on the fouth the Fellows Apartments, and on the west the Warden's Lodgings, which are large and commodious, furnished with fome valuable Portraits.

In the north-west corner of the court is the entrance into the Chapel; by much the grandest in the Univerfity. The form of it is like that of Magdalen College, but larger. The Ante-chapel is fupported by two beautiful ftaff-moulded pillars. This part is upwards of 80 feet long, and 36 broad.

As the PAINTED WINDOWS of this Chapel make one of its chief Ornaments, it will not be improper to bestow on them a more particular Description.

Of those there are four diftinct forts.

1. All the windows of the Ante-chapel (the great one excepted) are nearly, if not quite, as old as the Chapel itself, and contain the Portraits of Patriarchs, Prophets,

Prophets, Saints, Martyrs, &c. to the number of 64, and 50 fmaller above them: curious for their antiquity, but for little elfe, being drawn without perfpective, without the effect of light and fhade, and ill proportioned; yet in these are some remains which fhew the brilliancy of their colours, and fome traces of fimplicity and beauty; particularly in the Heads of the female Figures in the window on the righthand of the entrance to the Chapel.

2. Of the fecond fort are the windows on the north fide of the Chapel. These are done in the common modern ftyle by Mr. Peckitt of York. The three nearest the Organ contain, in the lower range, the chief perfons recorded in the Old Teftament, from Adam to Mofes; in the upper, twelve of the Prophets. Mr. Rebecca gave the defigns for thefe. The two other windows contain our Saviour, the Virgin Mary, and the twelve Apostles.

3. The third fort are on the fouth fide of the Chapel. These were originally Flemish Windows; and done (as it is reported) from defigns given by fome fcholars of Rubens. Being brought out of Flanders, they came into the poffeffion of Price the fon, whofe skill in glafs-painting is well known. Of him they were purchafed by the Gentlemen of the College, who alfo employed him to repair what injuries they had fuftained, and to fit them for the places where they now ftand, A. 'D. 1740. In each window are eight Figures, of Saints, Martyrs and Prelates, with their refpective fymbols; and for expreffion, colouring, and effect, they were efteemed equal, if not fuperior, to any painting executed on glafs, till the appearance of the fourth fort, of which we now come to speak.

4. The weft window of the Ante-chapel. This great window confifts of feven compartments in the lower range, each near three feet wide and twelve

high.

high. In these ftand feven allegorical Figures, reprefenting the four Cardinal, and three Chriftian Virtues, in the manner following:

TEMPERANCE, pouring water out of a larger veffel into a smaller one. Her common attribute, the Bridle, lies at her feet.

FORTITUDE, in armour; her hand refting on a broken column, which though half deftroyed remains upright; her form robuft, her look bold and refolute. A Lion, her attendant, couches below her.

FAITH, ftanding fixedly on both feet, and bearing a Crofs, the fymbol of her belief: her eyes and hand raised up to Heaven.

On the other fide of the middle group (of which more hereafter) HOPE, looking toward the fame Heaven, and springing forward to it fo eagerly that her feet scarce touch the ground. Part of an Anchor, her attribute, is feen in the corner of her compart

ment.

JUSTICE, looking with a steady and piercing eye through the dark shade which her arm cafts over her face: in her left hand the Steelyard, a kind of balance lefs cumbrous, if not lefs vulgar than the fcales which are usually given her. Her right hand fupports the sword.

PRUDENCE, beholding (as in a mirror) the actions and manners of others, for the purpose of regulating her own by obfervation thereon. Upon her right arm an Arrow joined with a Remora, the refpective emblems of swiftnefs and flownefs; Prudence being a medium between them.

The middle group, mentioned above, reprefents CHARITY, and deferves efpecial notice for the expreffion of the Figures therein contained. The fondling of the Infant, the importunity of the Boy, and the placid affection of the Girl, together with C

the

the divided attention of the Mother, are all diftinguishably and judiciously marked with a knowledge of character, for which the great Artist who gave this defign is fo juftly celebrated.

Such are the Figures which fill the lower compartments; yet they are but a fubordinate part, and (as it were) a bafis to the fuperb work erected over them. In a fpace ten feet wide and eighteen high, is reprefented the NATIVITY of JESUS CHRIST: à compofition of thirteen human Figures, befides fome animals. 1. The bleffed Virgin, whose attention is wholly engaged with her Infant.

2. A group of Angels defcended into the ftable, and kneeling around him. The face of the leaft of these exhibits an idea of youthful beauty that perhaps was never furpafled. 3. A company of Shepherds, whofe devotion and rude eagerness to behold him are ftrongly expreffed. 4. St. Jofeph, looking on the fpectators, and pointing to the Child, as to the promifed feed, the expectation and hope of all nations. 5. In the clouds above, an Angel contemplating the mystery of the Crofs; and near him a fcroll, whereon is written the original Greek of this text, Myfteries which the Angels themfelves defire to look into.

In this compofition the Painter has taken for his light that which is fuppofed to proceed from the body of the Infant: herein imitating a famous picture now preferved in the Gallery at Drefden, and known by the name of the Notte of Corregio*. This beautiful idea has often been adopted, but never fo judiciously applied as in this inftance; where the fubftance on which the Infant is delineated being transparent, and the light actually paffing through him, his body thereby receives a higher glow; and gives to the whole an appearance of reality.

* A small copy of this picture is in the Collection at Chrift Church. The

The remaining parts of this grand design confift of groups of Shepherds and other perfons who are approaching the Stable to pay their devotions to the new-born Saviour. Among thefe, the compartment next to the great picture on the fouth contains the portraits of the two artifts by whom this admirable work was executed; viz. Sir J. Reynolds, and Mr. Jervais: the portrait of the latter, who is represented as looking upwards, is esteemed a very fine and strong refemblance.

For this work, which was begun about the year 1776, finished Cartoons were furnished by Sir Jofhua Reynolds. These were copied by Mr. Jervais; to whofe fkill the world is indebted for a new ftyle in glafs-painting, which in beauty and truth of reprefentation exceeds all that have hitherto been seen, as much as the common productions excel the firft rude attempts of the art.

The Choir is 100 feet long, 35 broad, and 65 high. As we enter the inner Chapel the moft ftriking object is the Altar-piece; which is now, A. D. 1793, reftored nearly to the fame ftate that the Founder originally gave it. It confifts of fifty niches, difpofed in four ranges over the whole east end of the Chapel; ornamented with canopies, pinnacles, and tracery of the richest Gothic workmanship. These niches were filled by the Founder with the figures of divine and holy Perfonages; but foon after the Reformation they were all taken away and deftroyed, and the architecture itself much broken and defaced. Some remains however were ftill difcernible; and from these, by the skill and abilities of Mr. Wyatt, the defign of the prefent ftructure was made out and executed. By the fame eminent Architect the Chapel has lately been new roofed, the Choir enlarged in length and breadth, the Seats decorated with canopies,

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and