A Typical English Country House.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue IX, 28 February 1903, Page 618

A Typical English Country House.

Women, wherever they may be. and to whatever grade of society they belong, are always interested in pictures of other folks’ houses. This is particularly the case where the accidents of birth or fortune have enabled those homes to oe of special beauty. From time to time, as opportunity occurs, we intend showing on these pages pictures of some famous English homes, with occasionally, per haps, a few of some tasteful New Zealand residences. The English home we commence with, though not very ancient, is one of the most beautiful of English country seats.

Somerley. the beautiful country home of the Earl of Normanton, is situated about three miles from Ringwood, in one of the most lovely parts of England, on the borders of the New Forest. A drive through the neat and tidy red brick town of Ringwood, and through some very picturesque water meadows, the fa vourite haunt of artists, brings one to a thatched lodge, round in shape, at the entrance of Somerley Park, a mile and a half from the house. A prettier drive from the lodge to the house would be difficult to find. Here are trees of all descriptions, elms. oaks, and Scotch firs; while beneath one’s feet heather and bracken remind one vividly of the Scotch Highlands.

The house, a large yellow brick strut ture, was originally in the possession ol a Mr. St. John, and was built in 1797. It was then bought by Mr Daniel Hob son, who sold it to Mr Henry Baring in 1819. The colonnade on the south side of the house was added in 1817. In 182? Somerley was bought from Mr Baring by Welbore Ellis, second Earl of Normanton, who added the picture gallery, of which more later. This Lord Normanton was a great connoisseur, and collected all the pictures the house contains between 1816 and 1868. James, third Earl of Normanton, made several additions to the house, which were completed in 1873. He also bought most of the beautiful furniture it contains.

In the entrance hall are some good pictures, namely, Mireveldt’s “Banqueting Scene in a Garden.” and a copy of Sir Joshua's “Fortune Teller,” some Oriental china vases, and a fine old French clock. To the left of the hall is the sitting-room, where Lord Normanton transacts business. It contains

a crayon of Pitt by Gainsborough, a child’s head by Sir Joshua, and on the walls are hung some interesting family relics, the swords of Charles Agar, brother of the third Earl of Normanton, who was killed in the Crimea. On the right side of the hall is a conservatory. always full of lovely flowers, and this leads into the billiard-room, where are some very fine pictures, notably, two by Greuze, one of Lady Hamilton by Sir Joshua Reynolds, and one of the same lady by Romney; there is also a very fine head of Napoleon by Lefevre. It was the last portrait for which the Emperor sat and was painted in 1812. \

very interesting picture is one of Nelson in his cabin, by Lucy. Under the picture is a roll signed by many officers who served under him, certifying it to be a good likeness. This room also contains a very curious and interesting book in the shape of a New' Testament, or "Harmony of the Four Gospels,” bound in green velvet, stamped in gold, with a design of laurel sprays and fleur-de-lys. It is a very large volume, and is compiled in four languages, English, Latin, French and Italian, and contains two hundred and thirty-four plates, illuminated by the Sisters of Little Gidding. in

Huntingdon, in 16-10, and was presented in that year to Charles 11., then Prince of Wales, by Nicholas Ferrar. Charles I. had stamped velvet books made at Little Gidding for both his sons, Charles and James, as well as for himself. Returning to the hall, one may pass into the corridor, which is surrounded by a gallery. On the chimney-piece are some very good Wedgwood vases. The fender, of gilt metal Italian workmanship, is remarkably fine, and on the wall is a pier glass of very beautiful Chippendale. There is also a very pretty' Italian six-leaved screen, painted in designs of cupids, and two pictures by Gu-

ardi after Boucher. The dining-room windows overlook the East Terrace, and a very fine view is obtained of undulating country, through which the River Avon winds picturesquely, with the New Forest in the distance. The room is decorated in the Adams style. The finest pictures are “A Lioness” by Rubens, a portrait by Vandyck of Princess Mary, daughter of Charles 1., when a child, and one of Lady 7 Jane Grey by Luca Penni. This room contains a beautiful old French clock and an old Chinese screen of teakwood with some cleverly-painted battle

pieces. There is a similar screen in the smoking-room. To the right of the corridor is a mag nificent suite of rooms, consisting of two libraries, the drawing-room, and the picture gallery, all opening out into eaen other. The first is the West Library , with walls of red, and a cornice in white and gold. All round the room are mahogany bookcases. Over the Adams chimney-piece hangs a portrait of Prince Maurice, Elector of Saxony, by Mire veldt, and other notable pictures are two portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds. On an easel stands a pastel, by Ellis Rob erts, of the present Lord Normanton s

eldest daughter, Lady Georgina Agar, a pretty child of six, with fair hair and large blue eyes. Adjoining is the East Library. Over the Adams fireplace is a picture by Stew art of the Archbishop of Dublin, who was created first Earl of Normanton. It is contained in a magnificent frame of earved white and gilt w'ood and marble. Other pictures in this room are one by Gainsborough, a very fine portrait ol Lady Mendip, and one of the first Lady Normanton by Hoppner. On an easel is a picture by Powell, after Sir Joshua Revnolds. of Ladv Diana Beauclerk. The

furniture is all French, in the Empire style.

Leading out of the East Library are the drawing-room and gallery, which open into each other. The sofas and chairs are French of Louis XV period and are gilt and covered in crimson damask. The decorations in this room are white and gold. The chimney-piece of white marble is supported by two figure.-, Amongst other pictures the room con tains is a coast scene, “Moonlight,” by Cuyp, and others by Creswick, Crome. Etty, and “Miracles of St. Benedict,” b.

Vandyek. One, by Bonnington, is con sidered a chef d’oeuvre. Against the wall are two most valuable torcheres of Sevres, with gilt metal mounts, and two other torches of lapis lauli, which the. remarkably fine. In this room are sev eral specimens of Oriental china, Ol<l Worcester and Chelsea vases of great value. There is also a magnificent French writing-table of the Louis XIV. period; but the most interesting object is a table of petrified w’ood, mounted in steel and gilt metal, which belonged to Charles L, and later on to Marie Antoinette. The ciphers of the ill-fated

English monarch and the still more hap less French queen are on the back. In a glass show-table is a valuable collec tion of snuff-boxes, some by Boucher, some Vernis Martins, and some of Dre.-> den China. A watch belonging to George 111. is of dark blue enamel, and has “G.R.” and crown in diamonds. It was presented by George 111. to the Lady Pembroke of that day. On an easel is an enamel of George IV. in Coronation robes, by Bone, after Sir Thomas Lawrence’s picture, which is at Windsor Castle.

We now come to the most charming room in the house, namely, the Gallery, which is eighty-four feet long and thirty feet wide. It has a heavily gilt Italian ceiling, and contains sixty-one pictures, the most celebrated being “The Seven Cardinal Virtues,” painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds for the window of New College Oxford. There are twenty-four other pictures by Sir Joshua, an excellent portrait of Mr. Pitt by Gainsborough, and pictures by Hogarth, Morland, Can aletto, and Murillo. There is also a full length portrait of Diana, a daughter of Lord Pembroke, and wife of the second

Earl of Normanton, who collected the pictures and built the room, which was finished in 1851. The “Seven Virtues” were left by Sir Joshua to his niece, Lady Thomond, and at her death were bought by the second Lord Normantou This gallery is a delightful room for music, to which both Lord and Lady Normanton are devoted. At one end a lovely divided organ has recently been erected, the pipes being on each side a copy by Harlowe of the “Transfigure tion,” the original of which is in the Vatican. There is a remarkably tine eliim

ney-piece in this gallery. It is of carved marble, very high, with four beautifully carved pillars, and was bought in Paris, but had been in Rubens’ house in Antwerp. The gallery also contains some beautiful bronze candelabra, and is full of lovely’ china—Oriental. Angouleme, Dresden and Sevres. All these rooms are full of flowers, as Lady Normanton is devoted to them, and takes great interest in the garden. The bedrooms are thoroughly comfortable, and, like those in an average English country house, and contain very good engr ving-

and mezzotints. One suit of bedrooms looking east commands a good view of the New Forest. Lord and Lady Nor manton’s apartments are remarkably bright and cheerful. Lady Normanton’s boudoir, the walls of which are rose colour, contains many objets d’art. va luable pictures, and china. On the stairs hangs a picture of Mrs Siddons as the “Tragic Muse.” Whether it is a replica of those at Grosvenor House and Dulwich Gallery, or whether it is an admirable copy, is not known.