Queen's Drawing Room
On the ceiling is represented an assembly
of gods and goddesses. The whole intermixed with Cupids, and
a variety of flowers heightened with gold.
In this room, which is hung with tapestry,
representing the seasons of the year, is a beautiful clock, by
Vulliamy, the case and emblematic figures of Time clipping Cupid's
wings, etc., are in a peculiar style of taste and elegance.
The paintings are:
| Judith
and Holofernes |
Guido |
| A
Magdalen |
Sir
Peter Lely |
| Henrietta,
Duchess of Orleans, in the character of Minerva |
|
| Lady
Digby |
Vandyck |
| De
Bray and his family |
De
Bray |
| Killegrew
and Carew |
Vandyck |
Queen's Bed Chamber
On the ceiling of this room is painted
the story of Endimion and Diana. The bed set up by order of her
present most gracious Majesty, is of the most exquisite workmanship,
and is said to have cost fourteen thousand pounds; the whole
of the bedstead, and part of the tester, which is
made with a dome in the centre, are curiously carved and gilt;
the curtains and valances were of a rich pea-green corded tabby
(the green tabby being much faded is removed and a garter blue
satin substituted in lieu of it). The head, tester and counterpane,
of white satin, on which are
embroidered a variety of the most curious flowers; the colours
of them are beautiful and are disposed with the greatest accuracy
and judgement.
In this room is an exceeding fine glass,
10 feet 4 inches, by 4 feet 9 inches, and a curious commode table.
The paintings are:
| A
portrait of the Queen, at full length, with fourteen of the Royal
Offspring in Miniature |
West |
| Six
capital Landscapes |
Zucarilli |
| Two
Flower Pieces |
Y.
Baptist |
Room of Beauties
This room is thus named, from a collection
of portraits of the most celebrated beauties in the reign of
King Charles II, all of which are originals.
These are:
| Mrs.
Knot |
Wiffing |
| Mrs.
Lawson |
Wiffing |
| Lady
Sunderland |
|
| Lady
Rochester |
|
| Lady
Denham |
|
| Lady
Denham's sister |
|
| Mrs.
Middleton |
|
| Lady
Biron |
Houseman |
| The
Duchess of Richmond |
|
| The
Countess of Northumberland |
|
| Lady
Gramont |
|
| The
Duchess of Cleveland |
|
| The
Duchess of Somerset |
|
| Lady
Offory |
Wiffing |
Here are also thirteen portraits of Ladies,
after Vandyck, by Russel.
The Queen's Dressing Room
This room has been lately hung, by order
of her present Majesty, with a neat silk knotting on Manchester
stuff. Here are twelve elegant chairs, the seats of similar work
with the hangings, and in a correspondent style.
The only painting in this room is:
| Anne
of Denmark, King James the First's Queen |
Jansen |
Belonging to this room is a closet, in which is deposited the
Banner of France, annually delivered here on the 2nd of August,
by the Duke of Marlborough, successor to John, the great Duke
of Marlborough, by which he holds Blenheim, a magnificent palace
at Woodstock Park, in Oxfordshire, built in the reign of Queen
Ann, as a national reward and acknowledgement to that great general,
for his many glorious victories over the French, and their allies,
in a course of ten years most successful war.
Here is a portrait of Cardinal Wolsey,
and other paintings; but as this closet is not open for public
inspection, they do not offer to view.
Queen Elizabeth's Gallery
(The Picture Gallery)
The Collection of Paintings in this Room
consist of:
| The Emperor Charles the Fifth |
after Titian |
| A Conversation |
Teniers |
| Sir John Lawson |
Sir Peter Lely |
| Sir Christopher Minnes |
Ditto |
| An Italian Market |
Bamboccio |
| The Earl of Sandwich |
Sir Peter Lely |
| Sir Thomas Allen |
Ditto |
| An Italian Market |
Bamboccio |
| Sir William Penn |
Sir Peter Lely |
| Sir George Ascough |
Ditto |
| Sir Thomas Tiddyman |
Ditto |
| The Battle of Spurs |
|
| The Wise Men's Offerings |
Paul Veronese |
| Titian and a Senator of Venice |
Titian |
| Two Misers |
Quintin Matsys |
| A Boy with Puppies, etc |
Murillo |
| Ann, Duchess of York, Mother of Queen Ann |
Sir Peter Lely |
| Prince Rupert |
Ditto |
| King Henry the Eighth |
Holbein |
Our Saviour and
St. John |
Vandyck |
| King Henry the Eighth's Expedition to France |
|
| Saint
Joseph |
Fetti |
| The
Holy Family, |
after
Raphael |
| Sir
Jeremiah Smith |
Sir
Peter Lely |
| A
Man's Head |
Carlo
Cignani |
| A
Boy Paring Fruit |
Michaelangelo |
| A
Landscape with Men playing at Bowls |
Teniers |
| King James the First |
Van
Somer |
| A Man's Head |
Carlo
Cignani |
| The Ascension of the Virgin |
Bassan |
| Boars Drinking, etc |
Teniers |
| Sir Joseph Jordan |
Sir
Peter Lely |
| St. Charles de Boromeo |
Fetti |
| The Angel appearing to the Shepherds |
Poussin |
| The Interview between King Henry VIII, and Francis
I, King of France |
|
| Sir William Berkeley |
Sir
Peter Lely |
| Our Saviour in the Garden |
Nicolo
Poussin |
| Emanuel Philebert, Duke of Savoy |
Sir
A. More |
| The Angel delivering St. Peter out of Prison |
Stenwyck |
| The Duke of Albemarle |
Sir
Peter Lely |
| A Landscape |
Teniers |
| The Marquis del Guasto and his Family |
after
Titian |
| Sir John Harman |
Sir
Peter Lely |
| A Landscape |
Swanivell |
China Closet
This Closet, which is finely gilt and ornamented,
is filled with a great variety of curious old china, elegantly
disposed. Here is also a fine amber cabinet, presented to Queen
Ann, by Doctor Robinson, Bishop of Bristol, and Plenipotentiary
to the Congress at Utrecht.
The paintings are:
| Prince
Arthur and his two Sisters |
Mabuse |
| A
Woman with a Kitten in her Hand |
|
| A
Woman squeezing Blood out of a Sponge |
|
From this Gallery, you return to the Queen's
Dressing Room, from which you enter the King's Apartments.
King's Closet
On the ceiling of this room is painted
the Story of Jupiter and Leda. The hangings are of garter-blue
silk, and was put up by order of his present Majesty, [Geo III] in
1788.
The Paintings are:
| Anne,
Duchess of York |
Sir
Peter Lely |
| A
Man's Head |
Raphael |
| St.
Catharine |
Guido |
| A
Woman's Head |
Parmegiano |
| A
landscape with Boats, etc |
Breughel |
| A
Landscape with Figures |
Ditto |
| A
Landscape |
Teniers |
| Princess
Mary |
Sir
Peter Lely |
| The
Duke of Norfolk |
Holbein |
| A
Landscape, with the Holy Family |
Van
Uden |
| Martin
Luther |
Holbein |
| Erasmus |
George
Pens |
| Queen
Henrietta Maria |
Vandyck |
| The
Creation |
Breughel |
| Mary,
Duchess of York |
Sir
Peter Lely |
The King's Dressing Room
The ceiling is Jupiter and Danae - the
hangings are the same as in the last mentioned room. Here is
also a clock, by Vulliamy, in a similar style to that in the
Queen's Drawing Room.
The paintings are:
| Prince
George of Denmark |
Sir
G. Kneller |
| A
Magdalen |
Carlo
Dolci |
| A
View of Windsor Castle |
Wosterman |
| A
Man's Head |
Leonardo
da Vinci |
| A
landscape |
Wovermans |
| Nero
Depositing the Ashes of Britannicus |
Le
Sueur |
| The
Countess of Desmond |
Rembrandt |
| Figures
and Horses, with a Farrier's Shop |
Wovermans |
| A
Young Man's Head |
Holbein |
| King
Charles the Second |
Russel |
| Herodias's
Daughter |
Carlo
Dolci |
| An
Old Man's Head |
Holbein |
| James,
Duke of York |
Russel |
| A
View of Windsor Castle |
Wosterman |
| King
Charles the Second's Queen |
Sir
Peter Lely |
The King's Bed Chamber
On the ceiling, King Charles II is represented
in the robes of the Garter, seated on a throne, under a canopy
supported by Time, Jupiter and Neptune, with a figure representing
France, in a suppliant posture, at his feet. He is also attended
by Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, paying their obedience
to him.
The tapestry represents a part of the story
of Hero and Leander.
The bed in this room, which is of rich
flowered velvet, was made in Spitalfields, London, and was originally
set up in the Queen's Bedchamber, by order of Queen Ann; but
was, in 1778, removed hither, and the elegant bed before mentioned,
set up where this was taken from. We have here, likewise, another
of Mr. Vulliamy's clocks, decorated with masonic symbols, and
other devices, in a very superb manner.
The Paintings are:
| King
Charles the Second, in Armours when Prince |
Vandyck |
| Henry,
Duke of Gloucester, his Brother |
|
The King's Dawing Room
The ceiling is an allegorical representation
of the restoration of King Charles II, who is seated in a triumphal
car, drawn by the horses of the Sun, attended by Fame, Peace,
and the Polite Arts; Hercules driving away Rebellion, Sedition,
and Ignorance; Britannia and Neptune properly attended, paying
obedience to the monarch as he passes. In other parts of the
ceiling are painted the labours of Hercules, with festoons of
fruit and flowers, in stone colour, beautifully heightened with
gold.
This room has been lately fitted up in
a neat and elegant style; the hangings are of garter-blue silk,
skirted with a gilt moulding. Here is a most magnificent glass
of English manufactory eleven feet by six feet.
The paintings are:
| The
converted Chinese |
Sir
G. Kneller |
| St.
John |
|
| St.
Stephen stoned |
Rotterman |
| Cupid and Pysche |
Vandyck |
| Endymion and Diana |
Gennari |
| The Harvest |
Bassan |
| Venus
turned Painter (a copy) |
|
| Martha
and Mary |
from
Bassan |
| Our
Saviour before Pilate |
Schiavoni |
| A
Shepherd and Shepherdess |
Gennari |
| Danae |
Ditto |
| Peter,
James and John |
Michaelangelo |
The King's Public Dining
Room
On the ceiling is painted the banquet of
the gods, with a great variety of fish and fowl on the several
parts of the coving.
The carving of this room is most exquisite,
representing great variety of fruit, fish, and fowl, done in
lime-wood, by Mr. Gibbons, [Grinling Gibbons] a famous statuary
and carver in the reign of King Charles II.
The paintings are:
| Lacy,
a Comedian, in three Characters |
Wright |
| A
Bohemian Family |
Purdinoni |
| A
Family Singing by candle light |
Honthorst |
Divine Love Baglioni
Nymphs and Satyrs |
Rubens and Snyders |
| The Marriage of St. Catharine |
Dankers |
| The Naval Triumph of Charles II |
Verrio |
| The
Birth of Venus |
Gennari |
| Venus
and Adonis |
Ditto |
| Cephalus
and Procris |
Ditto |
| Hercules
and Omphale |
Ditto |
| A Sea Piece |
|
| The Hunting of the Wild Boar |
Synders |
| The
taking of Bears |
Bassan |
| A
Piece of Still-life, that is a brass pan, a fawn and a Bittern |
Kalf |
| A
Cocoa Hut and Tree |
|
| A
Crown Bird |
|
| Diana |
|
The King's Audience Chamber
The ceiling is a most lively representation
of the re-establishment of the Church of England on the restoration
of Charles II in the characters of England, Scotland and Ireland,
attended by Faith, Hope and Charity. Religion triumphing over
Superstition and Hypocrisy, who are driven by Cupids from before
the face of the Church; all of them represented in their proper
attitudes, and highly finished.
The furniture, paintings, and embellishments
(except the ceiling) of this room, are all new; every part of
them in the most superb style. The cornice and mouldings are
highly gilt; the hangings of rich blue silk, with the most beautiful
embroidered borders; the canopy and chair extremely magnificent;
and the chimney piece tables, glasses and chandeliers, all in
a similar style of splendour.
The paintings are by B. West, Esq., wherein
he has happily celebrated some of the principal glories of the
immortal Edward III.
These are:
| The
surrender of Calais to Edward III. |
| An
Entertainment given by Edward III, after defeating the French
in their attempt upon Calais. |
| The
Passage of Edward III over the River Somme. |
| The
interview between the King and his victorious son, the Black
Prince, after the battle of Cressy, in 1346 |
| The
History of St. George. |
| The
Battle of Poitiers, where Edward the Black Prince took King John
and his son Philip prisoners, whom he afterwards brought over
into England. |
| The
Battle of Neville's Cross, where David, King of Scotland, was
taken prisoner by Queen Philippa, while her royal consort, Edward
III, was besieging Calais |
| The
first Installation of the Order of the Garter, in St. George's
Chapel |
For a detail of these subjects, see Hume's
History of England, Vol. II or Rapin. Vol. IV.
The King's Presence Chamber
On the ceilings is painted, in a most masterly
style, a portrait of King Charles II, shown by Mercury to the
four quarters of the world; who are introduced by Neptune; Fame,
with a branch of olive in her left hand, and a trumpet in her
right, is sounding the glory of the Prince, and Time driving
away Rebellion, Sedition, and other evil Genii. Over the canopy,
Justice is showing the arms of Britain to Thames and his river
nymphs; the star of Venus, and the following label, "Sydus
Carolinum". At the lower end of the chamber is Venus in
a sea car, drawn by tritons and sea nymphs. The ground and manner
of finishing this ceiling are the same as those we have before
mentioned.
The hangings, etc., are in a similar style
with those in the preceding apartment, and were done at the same
period of time.
The Paintings are:
| Duns
Scotus |
Spagnolet |
| Peter,
Czar of Muscovy |
Sir
G. Kneller |
| Prometheus |
Young
Palma |
Four cartoons
1 Elymas the Sorcerer |
Raphael |
Charles
Knight's Note re cartoons:
Three other of these inestimable performances are in the Queen's
Presence Chamber.
Formerly at Hampton Court, viz. Elymas the Sorcerer, struck blind.
The whole body of Elymas from head to foot, expresses his being
blind. How admirably are terror and astonishment expressed in
the people present, and how variously, according to their several
characters. The Proconsul has these sentiments, but as a Roman
and a gentleman; the rest in several degrees and manners. The
same sentiments appear in Ananias's death together with joy and
triumph, which naturally arise in good minds, upon the sight
of divine justice, and the victory of truth. What grace and majesty
seen in the great Apostle of the Gentiles, in all his actions,
preaching, rending his garments, denouncing vengeance on the
Sorcerer. the Proconsul, Sergius Paulus, has a greatness and
grace superior to his character, and equal to what one can suppose
in Caesar, Augustus, or Trajan!" |
Charles
Knight's Note re "The Death of Ananias"
The greatest dignity appears in the Apostles. They are, however,
only a subordinate group, because the principal action relates
to the criminal; thither the eye is directed by almost all the
figures in the picture: what a horror and reverence invisible
in the whole assembly, on this mercenary man's falling down dead! |
| 3
Our Saviour giving the charge to Peter |
Charles
Knight's Note re "Our Saviour giving the charge to Peter"
This has received some injury, and is not what Raphael made it.
As this is the appearance of our Saviour after the Resurrection,
present authority, late suffering, humility, majesty, and divine
love, are at once visible in his celestial aspect. He is wrapt
only in one large piece of white drapery, his left arm and breast
are bare, and part of his legs naked, which was undoubtedly done
to denote his appearing in his resurrection-body, and not as
before his crucifixion, when this dress would have been altogether
improper. The figures of the eleven Apostles all express the
same passion of admiration, but discover it differently, according
to their characters. Peter receives his Master's orders on his
knees, with an admiration mixed with a more particular attention;
the words used on that occasion are expressed by our Saviour's
pointing to a flock of sheep, and St. Peter's having just received
two keys. The two next express a more open ecstasy, though still
constrained by their awe of the divine presence. The beloved
disciple has, in his countenance, wonder drowned in love; and
the last personage, whose back is toward the presence, one would
fancy to be St. Thomas, whose perplexed concern could not be
better drawn, than by this acknowledgement of the difficulty
to describe it. The apostle, who stands in profile, immediately
behind St. John, has a yellow garment, with red sleeves, which
connects the figure with St. Peter and St. John, whose draperies
are of the same species of colours: next is a loose, changeable
drapery; then another different yellow, with shadows, bearing
on purple, all of which produce wonderful harmony. |
| 4
Paul Preaching at Athens |
Charles
Knight's Note re "Paul Preaching at Athens"
Under preparation |
The King's Guard Chamber
The ceiling is much admired for the manner
in which it is painted in water colours. In one circle, are Peace
and Plenty; in another, Mars and Minerva; and in the dome is
a representation of Mars, with helmets, shields, and trophies.
In this room, the Knights of the Garter,
in the absence of the Sovereign, dine at an installation.
The magazine of arms, and warlike instruments,
deposited in this spacious room, were ingeniously disposed in
colonnades, pillars, circles, shields, and other devices by Mr.Harris,
late master gunner of this Castle. Among the coats of mail, is
that of the renowned Edward, the Black Prince, which is placed
over the door leading to St. George's Hall.
The paintings are:
| Charles
XI, King of Sweden, on Horseback |
Wyck |
| Eight
views of Battles, Sieges, etc. |
Rugendas |
St . George's Hall
| Editor's Note: St George's Hall was changed to
a great degree by Wyatville in the 1820s and subsequently severely
damaged in the fire of 1992, so much of the description that
follows can relate only to The Hall as it was described by Charles
Knight in The Windsor Guide, c.1811. |
This most magnificent apartment, which
is generally allowed to be one of the finest in Europe, is dedicated
to the peculiar honour of The Most Noble Order of the Garter.
In a large oval, in the centre of the ceiling,
King Charles II is represented in the habit of the Order of the
Garter, with his right foot on a lion's head, attended by England,
Scotland, and Ireland; religion and plenty, holding the crown
of these kingdoms over his head; on each side of the monarch,
are Mars and Mercury, with the emblems of war and peace. In the
same oval, is regal government, supported by religion and eternity;
justice, attended by fortitude, temperance, and prudence, beating
down rebellion and faction; and among the evil genii, the painter
is said to have introduced the Earl of Shaftesbury, a statesman
of that reign, dispersing libels. Nearer the throne is an octagon,
in which is St. George's Cross, encircled with the Garter, within
a star or glory, supported by Cupids, with the motto:
Honi Soit Qui
Mal Y Pense
the Muses attending in full concert, and
other embellishments, expressive of the grandeur of the order.
|
Editor's Note
Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense
translated reads: "Shame on he who thinks evil of it".
The story of the Order
of the Garter will be the subject of a future Thamesweb History
story.
|
On the back of the Sovereign' s Throne,
is painted a large canopy and drapery, on the latter of which
is represented, as large as life, St. George encountering the
dragon; and on the lower border is inscribed:
Veniendo Restituit
Rem
In English:
By coming, he restored
affairs.
In allusion to King William III who is
seated under the above-mentioned canopy, in the habit of the
order, by Sir Godfrey Kneller. The ascent to the throne is by
five steps of fine marble, to which the painter has made an addition
of five more, in such perfection, that they agreeably deceive
the sight, and almost induce the spectator to believe them equally
real.
In the lower compartments of the ceiling,
over the music gallery, is the collar of the order of the Garter,
supported by cupids, and encompassed with a variety of characters,
emblematic of this most illustrious order of knighthood.
On the north side of this superb chamber,
extending 108 feet in length, is elegantly painted the triumph
of Edward, the Black Prince, son of Edward III, founder of the
Order of the Garter, who is seated at the upper end, receiving
John, King, of France, and David, King of Scotland, prisoners,
under a canopy of green velvet. The Prince, crowned with laurels,
is seated in a triumphal car, in the midst of the procession,
supported by slaves, preceded by captives, and attended by the
emblems of Liberty, Victory, and other ensigns of the Romans,
with the banners of France and Scotland displayed. The painter
has closed this procession with the Countess of Salisbury, in
the person of a fine lady, making garlands for the Prince, and
a representation of Shakespeare's 'The Merry Wives of Windsor'.
In this last part of the group, he has humorously introduced
himself, in a black hood and a scarlet cloak.
At the lower end of the hall is a noble
music gallery, finely carved and gilt, supported by four slaves,
beautifully carved in wood, bending, as it were, beneath their
burthen, representing a father and his three sons, whom the brave
Edward, the Black Prince, is said to have made Captives in his
wars. Over the music gallery is the following inscription:
ANTONIUS
VERIO, Neapolitanus,
Non Ignobili, Stirpe Natus.
Augustissimi REGIS CAROLI Secundi
SANCTI et GEORGII
Molem Hanc Foelicissima Manu
Decoravit
In English thus:
Anthony Verrio,
a Neapolitan,
born of a noble race, ornamented with a most happy hand
this large pile of' building,
of the most noble King Charles II and St. George.
St George's or The King's
Chapel
| Editor's Note: The King's Chapel became part of
St George's Hall during Wyatville's alterations in the 1820s,
so much of the description that follows can relate only to The
Chapel as it was described by Charles Knight in the Windsor Guide
of c.1811. |
In this Chapel, which is adjoining to St.
George's Hall, divine service is performed every morning, during
his Majesty's summer residence at Windsor, at eight o'clock.
The ceiling is a masterly and striking
representation of the ascension of our Saviour, accompanied by
a numerous host of angels. On the west end, over the altar, is
Mary Magdalen, weeping on the outside of the sepulchre; and on
each side, on the cornice, are the Roman soldiers.
The Altar-piece is The Last Supper; and
on the north side of the Chapel are painted some of the miracles
of our Saviour, as, his raising Lazarus from the dead, curing
the sick of the palsy, casting out devils, etc., by Verrio, who,
in the principal part of the design is masterly, but is thought
by connoisseurs not to have been quite so happy in his execution
of it, the figures of the sick men being too athletic for persons
in their supposed condition. There is also a much greater inconsistency
in the painter's having introduced Sir Godfrey Kneller, and Mr.
Cooper, who assisted him in these painting and likewise himself,
in a full black wig, bidding the cripples go to our Saviour to
be healed.
The closets for the King and the Royal
Family form the east end of this Chapel. The canopy, curtains,
and furniture, are of crimson velvet, with gold fringe. The carved
work of this Chapel is worth the particular attention of the
curious; it represents a great variety of palms, pelicans, doves,
and other allusions to scripture history; likewise the star and
garter, with other ornaments, all finely executed by Gibson.
From this Chapel you return into the Queen's
Guard Chamber, and this closes the several apartments shown to
the public; the other apartments being seldom open, except when
the Court resides at Windsor, though they consist of many beautiful
rooms, with paintings by the best masters.
Thamesweb are grateful
to Master James (aged 11) for scanning and proof reading the
above from the original typed text prepared by MNC to whom we
are equally indebted.
See also
The History
Zone Index
A List of Kings and Queens of England since AD1066
Royal
Windsor Home Page
To
contact us, email Thamesweb.
|
