tian; a most capital Bacchanalian Piece, by Reubens ; Andromeda chained to the Rock, by the same; the Offering of the Magi, by Reubens; a French Camp, by Watteau; a small Cabinet with Miniatures of the present Family; two small Landscapes, by a French Artist; Cattle, by Rosa di Tivoli; two corresponding small Landscapes, as before; another corresponding Cabinet, inclosing Miniatures; a Landscape by Paul Brylle; Lord Henry and Lady Charlotte Spencer, by Sir J. Reynolds; Reubens, Wife, and Child, by Reubens, presented to the first Duke by the city of Brussels; Charles I. by Vandyck; a Holy Family, supposed by Raphael, a present from the town of Ghent; Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I. by Vandyck; an Angel, by Corregio; Cattle and Figures, by Wovermans; a Landscape, small, by Claude Lorraine; a broad Day-break, by VanderThis Drawing Room is furnished with crimson meer. damask. The Grand Cabinet. In this room, which is also furnished with crimson damask, the paintings, which are well worthy of particular observation, are, A Holy Family, by Reubens; a Madona standing on a Globe surrounded by Angels, by Carlo Maratti; the Offering of the Magi, by Reubens ; our Saviour blessing the Children, by Reubens; Filial Affection exemplified in the Roman Daughter, by Reubens; Return of our Saviour from Egypt, by Reubens; Lot's Departure from Sodom, by Reubens, a present from the town of Antwerp; Paracelsus, by Reubens; a Madona, her head encircled with Stars, supposed the miraculous Conception, by Carlo Dolce Raphael's Dorothea, by himself; Head of Reubens, by the same; Pope Gregory, and a female Penitent, by Titian; a Holy Family, by Ludovico Caracci. The Blue Drawing Room, Which has gilt ornaments to the blue damask. The Paintings are, Isaac blessing Jacob, by Rembrandt; Catharine of Medicis, by Reubens; Time cutting Cupid's wings, by Vandyck; William Marquis of Blandford, by Sir G. Kneller; a Landscape, by Vandermeer; a Dutch Family, by Ostade; a Landscape, by Gaspard Poussin; Dorothy Countess of Sunderland, celebrated by Waller, by Vandyck; another Landscape, by Gaspard Poussin; a small beautiful Family Piece, by Gonzales; a very fine Landscape, by Wovermans; Ladies Caroline and Elizabeth Spencer, by Romney; on the right of which are two Heads of young Women, by Paul Veronese; on the left our Saviour and St. John, by Carlo Dolce; the Woman taken in Adultery, by Rembrandt; our Saviour and the Virgin in the clouds, and a Monk worshipping, by Annibal Caracci; our Saviour and the Virgin in the clouds, &c. by Tintoret; twentythree Miniature Portraits in one frame; a Holy Family, by Ludovico Caracci; Cattle and Figures, by Bambocchio. The Winter Drawing Room. The Tapestry is a Representation of the Cardinal Virtues. Over the Chimney is a very fine Portrait of Mary Duchess of Richmond, and a Girl presenting her gloves, by Vandyck. Over the doors, Lord Stafford and his Secretary, and Mrs. Killigrew and Mrs. Morton, by Vandyck. The Dining Room. Over the door going in from the Drawing Room is a capital Piece of Cattle and Figures, by Castiglione; a Bacchanalian Piece, by Vandyck; Lot and his Daughters, by Reubens, given by the Emperor of Germany; Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I. by Vandyck; Venus and Adonis, by Reubens, given by the Emperor Joseph I.; the present Duke, Duchess, and six Children, by Sir J. Reynolds; the Rape of Europa, by Paul Veronese. On the pannels near the windows are six small Landscapes, by Wootton. THE SALOON. This Room, which is nobly decorated, is proportioned to the magnificence of the rest. The lower part is lined with marble, which affords a cool retreat in the warmest weather. The several compartments represent the different Nations in their various habits and modes of dress, by La Guerre. The Ceiling is emblematic, representing John Duke of Marlborough in the midst of his victories stopped by Peace, and Time reminding him of the rapidity of his own Flight, painted also by La Guerre. Over the right-hand Chimney, as we enter from the Hall, a Bust of Caracalla. Over the other, a Bust of a Roman Consul. The Green Drawing Room. The Tapestry represents more of John Duke of Marlborough's Battles. Over the nearest door to the Saloon is a Portrait of a young Knight of St. John of Jerusalem, by Barroccio. Over the opposite Door. Meleager and Atalanta, very masterly, by Reubens. On the pannel near the window next the Saloon, the Adoration of the Shepherds, by Lucca Giordano. A Madona and Child, by Nie. Poussin; a Garland of Flowers, with Figures in the middle, by Rottenhammer. On the Pannel opposite this are, The Offering of the Magi, by Lucca Giordano; a Holy Family, by Nic. Poussin; a Garland of Flowers, with Figures in the middle, by Rottenhammer; a highly finished Picture of her Grace the Duchess of Marlborough, by Romney. State Drawing Room. The Tapestry continues to represent the farther Description of the Battles of John Duke of Marlborough. Over the Chimney. The present Duke of Marlborough, by Romney a capital Painting upon black Marble, by Allesandor Ve ronese. Over the first door is a Fruit-piece, by Lucca Giordano. Over the opposite door, St. Laurence distributing the Ornaments of the Altar, by Il Prete Genoese. The State Bedchamber, Which is furnished with blue damask, with elegant gilding, has on the Chimney a Bust of Diana, over which is a very capital Picture of Seneca bleeding to death, by Lucca Giordano. On a Pannel to the right are, A Portrait of King Edward VI. by Holbein; a View of Architecture, by Panini; the burning of Troy, by old Frank. Over the Doors. Two Pieces of Still-life, by Maltese. THE LIBRARY. From a series of smaller yet magnificent apartments we are suddenly struck at entering this superb room, which is 183 feet long, and 31 feet 9 inches wide in the centre. The Doric pilasters of marble, with the complete columns of the same, which support a rich entablature, the window-frames, the surrounding basement of black marble, and the stuccoed compartments of the vaulted ceiling, are in the highest taste both of design and finishing. It was originally intended as a gallery for paintings; but the late Duke adding utility to elegance, furnished it with a noble collection of books, made by Lord Sunderland, his Grace's father. Their number amounts to more than 24,000 volumes, which renders it the principal private collection in England. At one end of the room is a highly-finished Statue of Queen Anne, by Rysbrack, with this inscription: To the Memory of Queen ANNE, JOHN Duke of MARLBOROUGH And to whose Munificence He and his Posterity With Gratitude Owe the Possession of BLENHEIM. A. D. MDCCXXVI. |