A RARE VAN DYCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 6 (Supplement)

A RARE VAN DYCK.

HOUSE OF TREASURES. Once every year Lord Dysart turns, his beautiful old house at Richmond into a museum and holds a garden party in his grounds, all for the sake of charity. This year over 6000 came, writes a correspondent.. Most of them had to walk the mile-long drive up to the house, which is a real beauty spot surrounded by orchards and fields of cattle. Lord Dysart lives in a few rooms on the ground floor, so we were able to view the rest of tho house without disturbing him. A guide preceded us through the rooms. In tho quaint oak-panelled chapel was a prayer book in a huge gold embroidered cover, which was the gift of Charles 11. The organ, with its gaily painted pipes, was across the hall. In the large ground-floor room was a perfect little grand piano, like a pocket edition of the modern ofte which stood besideit; further up the room was an upright pianola against a library of music rolls. It was like walking through the ages. Among the paintings was a Van Dyck which is generally considered to be his best. This was a portrait of Charles 1., showing his light, brown beard, dark straggling hair and beautiful long, pale hands.