The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-07

Tnx RESIDENCES OF THE ENGLISH NoBuITY-TIu
DISPLAY OF PAINTINGS.
(From the London Times, May 1871
The Duke Of Northumberland has followed the
example set by other noblemen at this season. and
opened his two mansions, Northumberland house
and Sion house, to the public. The public are
being admitted (by ticket) to Northumber land
house and many persons avaed themselves of the
privilege thus extended. To ell Londoners whose
wont it is to pass and repass Charing- cross, Nor
cumberland house, with its imposing front and
rampant lion, has always been a great mystery,
which the commonality never hoped to penetrate,
as being something too awfuly and austerely grand
for the familiarity implied in visit We recon-
mend curiosity to crafty itself with all expedition
Tho town house Of the Northum berland family GER
tainly does not present many points Of attraction
as others OF the great metropolitan mansions of the
nobility. Neither in respect to architecture art, or
upholstery, is it Of the modern models. But is
exactly the palace which great English noblcman
not running after the last fashions, might be expected
to inhabt, and though not claiming to be a
sight, it is place which all persons of taste will
desire to be acquainted with In point Of antiquity
the locate is very intere sting On this site has been
the London residence of the Porcies flor ages they
were the most fashionable Of the aristocracy, for
they were the most west) since the Percics were
first famous. The house, it appears, has been
built half a dozen different times and, now, its
- latest improvements" are hundred years old.
The oldest portion Of the present building is the
portal towards the Strand but even of this, accord
ing TO Peter Cunningham, there is good deal that
is new. The date, l7t9, on the facade, as it at
present stands we learn from the present author
ity. refers to the most recent reparation, which
commenced in that year. When the stranger
passes the demi-feudal outer walls, no finds him
self in a quadrangle which is the court yard
OF handsome, comparatively modern build
ing. That portion exhibited to the public
consists of the reception-rooms-a suite the din
ing-room floor, and second suite on the drawing
room floor. The costly, beautiful, and elegant
iurntnre-the cabinets, mosaics, embroideries, and
hangings-the whole combined to give an impress
sion OF graceful and complete comfortIwil attract
attention But it is to the paintings the visitor
refer for the reasons which have suggested the
course taken by the noble and accomplished owner
in inviting the public to invasion Of his penates.
The collection is Of a value enhanced by the fact
that very few have suspected it to exist 1t cannot,
undoubtedly, compete, in Claudes, with the Grosve-
gallery 1t is exceedingly limited a. to the number
Of its treasures, and 1t comprises hardly single
picture out Of the Italian and Flemish schools Mrs
Jameson has never taken any notice OF II in her
"priyate galleries" and Waagen has only one or
two lines about it. 1t is, nevertheless, well worth
seeing, II only for one or two chefs.dGu The
drawing room suite Of rooms is principally filled
with portraits, some Of them by eminent masters,
and heroines Of the family. Among the minority is
marvellous portrait Of Napoleon-marked, as by
Phillips. Delaroche never put on canvass so inn
pressive FACET is the "Child Of Destiny" un-
mistakable in the likeness, delneated with Won
derful power. The lower rooms well filed with
excellent subjects Here will be found conspicuous
the "Cornaro Family of Titan, one Of the most
celebrated Of his paintings by description, and
perhaps one Of the least accurately known in
Europe. This is the same picture which Eve
lyn saw in 1863, and which he mentions
" The Venetian Senator'S" There are or two
othcrsworks by the same master, all suffering from
cleanings. There are also pictures by Rubens, Van
dyke, Snydcrs, Salvador Rosa, Caravaggio, Cana
letti, Domenechino, Tintoretto, Lancette, Cuyp,
Others Of less eminence, but most Of them Of great
emirence. Waagen Quoted by Cunningham
says:-" Among the other pictures, some of which
are much damaged, the following are the most de-
serving Of notice; ST. Sebastian, bound on the
ground, in tho air two angels; clear, well executed
picture by Guercino, with figures as large life;
a small Alteration Of the Shepherds, by Gacomo
Bassano three half figure portraits in one picture,
by Vandyke; well executed and delicate picture
Of his middle periods a fox and deer hunt-two
admirable pictures, by Franz SLyders. A genuine,
but ordinary Holy Family, by J. Jordaens; pretty
girl with a candle, before which she holds her
hands, by q. Schalken, Of remarkable clearness
and good impasto." The largest room shown is the
ball room-built by the late duke This is supcrbly
fitted UP and adorned. In the centre is placed an
enormous vase, presented to the late duke by
Charles Dix. Around the room full sized copies
of some celebrated paintings, which may be pro-
bounced as probably the next best things to the
original. One Of these is copy Of Raphaers
" School of Athens" done by Mengs in ITS il is
. very beautiful work. The others are the
"Bacchus and Ariadne" Of Annibal Caracci, copied
by Constayni: the Marriage Feast Of Cupid and
Psyche Of Raphael, copied by Pompeio Battoni:
the Presentation Of Cupid and Psyche" after Ka-
phael, by Battoni. There are numerous other OBJ
jects entitled to examinations and what we have
thus briefly stated will evidence that the Duke Of
Northumberland, in his courtesy, has preferred a
general qualification to connoisseurs in art.