New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-31
HAMPTON COURT
A CATALOGUE OF THE PICTURES tn.
THE ROYAL GALLERY OF Hampton

Palace. with Descriptive Bi ogranhhl1 TN
Critical Notes, Revised, Enlarged and az
trated with a Hundred Plates Nv E,,s.. iass
Ii. A., Barrister-at-Law. Author NJ ars L.,
tory OF Hampton Court Palace" n.
pp. xxxyili 1896. The Macmillan Compans% An
The great virtue OF this bulky cataI,.
that, having been written by the hsto,,.~
Hampton Court Palace. by one who has -
its every Granny and lived In the a,rnosnh..'H
its every roya! episode and pageant, II IA r,.,
more than a bald list Of pictures. Ev.-
those who have never visited wolsey.. -
residence It shoIl1 revive the charact4,s,'..
the latter in vivid colors. Mr. Law lo,.. y,
subject hence he Is a perfect clceron.
Hampton Court needs 10 be approached -
feelings Of warm sympathy, not merely hs,,.~
Of its varied associations. full OF the s,,h..'
ment Of English history. but because ,,,.
an architectural monument. il IL one ~ a.,
stateliest and at the same time one OF the ,r.,-'
est OF old palaces Its ROSY brick walk ~,
delicateiy with the quiet landscape % a.
Thames valley their simple lines risiax 49,,
dignity and yet never aggressively again. -.
horizon. Sinister as well as pleasant ana :.
mantle memories cluster about the fam.
pile, but now. cnwrapped in honorable rs,..,
1t has an air OF peace and placid. droyyv A.
world charm which makes II seem A tv,s :,
what is calmest and most suayely ingrati.a,.
in the English character.
We speak thus Of the exterior. in which -.
styles OF the Tudor builders and Christian,
Wren and his even more austere succa.,o,,
have been fused by time into one plctures,r,
ensemble. Inside the ancient spell Is unbro.,,
and though the vast collection embraces l,,,.
proportion OF inferior works OF art, their p-s,.
ence is not seriously disturbing One takss n,
lumber along with the masterpieces. and s.,.
veys both as one would survey the miscellan.on,
objects in an old IA nly mansion The rambI,,
plan Of the structure. involving many unex.
pected turns, many rooms OF divers dimensions
and homelike as well as formal chambers as
sists in creating this feeling as OF being in som.
nobeman's private house. There are scores q.
old portraits which. as works OF art have ns,.
to no significance, but. "a Mr. Law says. thsy
constitute a sort OF pictorial epitome O. n.
history of England. He makes these more II.
teresting by supplying innumerable biograpA.
cal notes. many OF which are familiar enougA
but not one Of which fails 10 take On new yal,.
as it is read in direct association with the Do,
trait in question. There Is. for example u,
story OF lie Chevaler de Grammont and "a
lovely bride. He fell very much in love wh..
first he knew her. and resented the attenu0n
which the Duke OF York seemed disposed 70 il
at her feet, but. for some reason or other-p-,
haps because he was Of so volatile 1 nature u
Mr. Law observes-he set out 70 leave EngiTi
without her. The ladys brothers followed b.
to Dover and confronted him at his 4,
"Chevalier de Grammont." they cried. have =.
not forgotten something in LONDON" He T.
cepted the situation with a good grace. Pr
don me. gentlemen" he replied. Il have forgr
ten to marry your sister" and forthwith ne p
turned to the city. His love partly drew Z.
back: partly also he submitted b the coercion :,
the brothers. but we surmise that he telt =
ladys own imperious will beneath the po.l
arguments OF her kinsmen when we turn FIR
Mr. Laws notes to the reproduction o. Nli
beautiful portrait, painting notaue tG e
gance and nueucy. if not for strength and isV
Even this little plate brings back the hlrght
aspect Of that difficult dame. one unlerslant
better in examining it how the lai'as d o,
French court came to regard her as the A.
S!alSe lnSuppoTtdDle, anu W. So H-t pll'r INV
in the brave throng at Hampton. s-.i-co ailiis-
disdainful and radiantly beautfu.
There are few pictures Of Ieiy's grade +
Hampton Court as fine as thlt re 70 VIII
we have just referred. and. as SEE have h.'
Gated above. the personal element counts I;
many cases where artistic merits are ny!aa.
All along the line there are disdppoiutments Il
.f, U.fF
are some glorious pictures too. from ne ltali-
German and Flemish schools. "sp1 ally iro-
the first. Mr.. Law we are glad ID see, Is o.
where more copious and appreciatve than was,
speaking of Mantegna's great series of piciuTa
devoted to The Triumph of julius Cesh
These are. in fact, among the richest possesslOt'
OF the Crown. and to some students seem qI'
the most nracinus and inn nria things 4