BLENHEIM CASTLE, the Seat of His Grace the Duke of MARLBOROUGH. DITCHLEY, that of the late Earl of LITCH FIELD. HEYTHROP, of the Earl of SHREWSBURY. NUNEHAM, of Earl HARCOURT. AND STOW, that of the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM BLENHEIM CASTLE, THE SEAT OF HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH. WITH A CATALOGUE OF THE PRINCIPAL PORTRAITS AND STATUES, A DESCRIPTION OF THE TAPESTRY, PAINTINGS, GARDENS, HE Caftle of BLENHEIM, the feat of His Grace the Duke of MARLBOROUGH, is fituated weft of Woodstock, a market and borough town, about seven miles and a half from Oxford. From the town we enter the Park through a spacious portal of the Corinthian order; from whence a noble profpect is opened to the Castle, the Bridge, the Lake with its Valley, and other beautiful fcenes of the Park. The Houfe in particular, which we furvey from this point obliquely, is probably no where viewed to greater advantage. The front is 348 feet from wing to wing, and confits of a variety of architecture, defigned by Sir John Vanbrugh. On the pediment of the fouth front towards. the garden is a noble Bufto, larger than the life, of Louis XIV. taken from the gates of Tournay. We enter the Houfe on the eaft, through a portal built in the ftyle of martial architecture, on the top of which is a refervoir, which fupplies the houfe with water from the river. This leads us into a quadrangle chiefly chiefly confifting of arcades and offices. From hence we pafs into the grand area. Through the fuperb portico elevated on maffy co lumns we enter THE HALL. This magnificent room is of the height of the house, and of a proportionable breadth. It is fupported by Corinthian pillars. Over the door going into the Saloon. A Buft of John Duke of Marlborough. Two Statues in Bronze, viz.. The Venus of Medicis, and the Faun, both from the originals in marble in the Duke of Tuscany's collection at Florence, and executed by Max. Soldani Benzi, at Florence, 1711. Above, upon the right and left, are feveral marble Termini, with two excellent Statues of a Nymph and a Bacchanal. The ceiling, painted by Sir James Thornhill, allegorically reprefents Victory crowning John Duke of Marlborough, and pointing to a Plan of the Battle of Blenheim. The Bow-Window Room. Over the chimney is a capital original Picture of the Virgin and Child, St. John and St. Nicholas, by Raphael, formerly belonging to the Capella degli Anfidei at Perugia. Over the firit door is St. Jerome, by Giorgioni. On a pannel to the right, a fine Head, after An. Caracci, by Sir J. Reynolds; a Head of Lady Anne Churchill, by Sir G. Kneller; a fmall Picture of the Affumption, by Tintoret; a female Head, by Rubens; two Monkies in the habit of Monks, by Teniers; a Madona and Child, by Leonardo da Vinci. Over the fecond door are two Nymphs, by an unknown Master. In the Duke's Dreffing-Room The Paintings are -Venus and Adonis, by an un certain certain Artist; a Magdalen, by young Palma; our Saviour in the Virgin's lap, by Titian; St. Mark, writing his Gofpel, by old Palma; Infide View of a Church, by Steenwyck; a Spanish Sea-Port, by Weenix ; De. ftruction of Pharaoh and his Hoft, by old Frank; two Beggar Boys, by Murillio; Efther and Ahafuerus, by Paul Veronefe; three Beggar Boys, by Murillio; a Holy Family, by Rubens; Charles Earl of Sunderland, by Kneller; George I. by an unknown Artift; Sleeping Venus and Satyr, from the School of Rubens; a View of Althorpe, the feat of Earl Spencer, by Tilleman. The Eaft Drawing Room. Over the door going in from the Dreffing Room is a Holy Family. The Marchionefs de Havre, and Mary of Medicis, by Vandyck. The Duchefs of Buckingham and her Children, by Vandyck. An oval Portrait of King William III. by Sir G. Kneller; a Man's Head, by Titian; another Head, by Holbein ; an Annunciation, by Corregio; an oval Portrait of Lady Chefterfield, by Vandyck; a Whole-length of Philip II. of Spain, by Titian; a moft capital Bacchanalian Piece, by Rubens; Andromeda chained to the Rock, by the fame; the Offering of the Magi, by Rubens; a French Camp, by Watteau; a fmall Cabinet with Miniatures of the prefent Family; two fmall Landfcapes, by a French Artift; Cattle, by Rofa di Tivoli; a Landscape, by Paul Brylle; Lord Henry and Lady Charlotte Spencer, by Sir J. Reynolds; Rubens, Wife and Child, by Rubens, prefented to the firft Duke by the city of Bruffels; Charles I. by Vandyck; a Holy Family, fuppofed by Raphael, a prefent from the town of Ghent; Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I. by Vandyck; an Angel, by Corregio; Cattle and Figures, by Wovermans; a Landscape, fmall, by Claude Lorrain; a broad Day-break; by Vandermeer. This Drawing-Room is furnished with crimifon damak. The Grand Cabinet: In this room, which is alfo furnished with crimfon damask, |