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Petworth House

 

 

 

The North Gallery - The South Corridor

 

 

This is the earliest part of the North Gallery. Built between 1754 and 1763 to house the major part of the 2nd Earl's collection of Antique statuary. The walls of this sculpture gallery were originally painted grey-blue, but following the 3rd Earl's extensions, the gallery was painted white.


Principal Pictures


James Northcote, RA (1746-1831). The Murder of the Princes in the Tower

The future Edward V and his younger brother, the Duke of York, were murdered in the Tower in 1483, on the orders of Richard III.


James Northcote, RA (1746-1831). Lion Hunt, 1819

This Rubensian composition derives in part from Rubens's Lion Hunt (Dresden Gallery)


James Northcote, RA (1746-1831). Richard III and the Little Princes, 1799

The future Richard III (in armour) contemplates the murder of the little princes


Sir Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641) after Daniel Mytens (c.1590-c.1647)

Lodovick Stuart, 2nd Duke of Lennox and 1st Duke of Richmond (1574-1623/4)

Steward of the Household to James I. Bought in 1754 by the 2nd Earl.


Unknown Netherlandish Painter, 1602. Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland (1564-1632)

The inscription states that this somewhat bizarre and provincial portrait was 'drawne in the loe Counties 1602', where the Wizard Earl was on campaign. He and other noble volunteers were criticised by their commander for the extravagance of their dress and retinues.


Antique Sculpture


Statue of Ganymeade. Roman, 2nd century AD; Pentelic marble

Restored, published and engraved by Bartolomeo Cavaceppi (1716-99), 1763, and has never been cleaned. Ganymeade, a shepherd, was the beautiful son of Tros, the legendary King of Troy. According to Ovid, the amorous Jupiter, having transformed himself into an eagle, carried off the youth to be his cup-bearer on Olympus.


Female Portrait Statue

Roman adaptation of a Greek original of the late 5th century BC; Parian marble. Restored by Cavaceppi.


Statue of Hera

Roman, after a Greek of Hellenistic original, probably of the 2nd century BC; Parian marble. Hera was the sister and wife of Zeus and was worshipped as the protectress of women.


Statue of Apollo. Roman, 2nd century AD; Parian marble

Apollo is depicted as Apollo Kitharoedos with his lyre as patron of poetry and music and leader of the Muses. Purchased almost certainly by the 2nd Earl, from the Palazzo Vettori, Rome.


Statue of a Satyr Pouring out Wine

After an original by Praxiteles; Parian marble. The torso was found at Rome by the Neo-classical painter-dealer Gavin Hamilton. The head, arms and lower part of the right leg are the principal additions.


J.C.F.Rossi, RA (1762-1839). Celadon and Amelia

Exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1821. The Subject is taken from Thomson's 'Seasons' and depicts the moment in 'Summer' when Celadon and Amelia, the ''matchless pair'' of lovers, are overtaken by a thunderstorm (Amelia is about to be struck dead by a lightning bolt). The unusually dramatic conception of this group sets it apart from most contemporary British Sculpture.


John Flaxman, RA (1755-1826). Pastoral Apollo. Signed and dated 1825

The 3rd Earl's first commission of an ideal subject, depicting Apollo as the protector of shepherds. It took Flaxman twelve years to complete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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