During his lifetime, Sir Robert Walpole (1675 - 1745), first Prime Minister of England, amassed a magnificent collection of paintings and sculptures at Houghton Hall, the house he built in Norfolk. This book recreates the Houghton of Walpole's day, with many of its original paintings, drawings, and objets d'art, arranged room-by-room as Walpole and his friends and advisors, notably the great designer William Kent, would have shown them. The innovative grandeur of the building and the splendour of its contents combined to ...
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During his lifetime, Sir Robert Walpole (1675 - 1745), first Prime Minister of England, amassed a magnificent collection of paintings and sculptures at Houghton Hall, the house he built in Norfolk. This book recreates the Houghton of Walpole's day, with many of its original paintings, drawings, and objets d'art, arranged room-by-room as Walpole and his friends and advisors, notably the great designer William Kent, would have shown them. The innovative grandeur of the building and the splendour of its contents combined to make Houghton one of the premier houses of England, and thus it has remained. But a large part of Walpole's collection of paintings was sold for just ???40,000 by his grandson George, Earl of Orford, to Catherine the Great, enlightened and acquisitive Empress of Russia's Golden Age. The majority remain in Russia, and only family portraits, furniture and sculpture are still to be seen at Houghton. Essays by experts including John Harris and John Cornforth discuss the building and furnishing of Houghton, the Prime Minister as collector, the sale to Catherine the Great, and its legacy. This lavish book is the first to do justice to the rich and complex heritage of Houghton, one of England's greatest treasures.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. Size: 9x0x11; Hardcover in Beautiful condition with just a tiny hint of shelf wear! Dust jacket and pages are Clean and bright! Overall in Great condition!
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Seller's Description:
NF/VG-(light shelf wear to dj; no chips, tears, etc. ) Navy cloth with gilt lettering. Color-photographic dj with blue lettering on white spine. Decorative end papers. 176 pp. with 80 color and bw plates. The story of the patronage and collecting of Sir Robert Walpole, first Prime Minister of England. Walpole amassed a magnificent collection of paintings and sculpture at Houghton Hall, the country seat he built to house his collection. A large part of the collection was sold to Catherine the Great and remains in Russia, but family portraits, furniture, and sculpture still can be seen at Houghton Hall. Includes 9 essays on the building and furnishing of Houghton, Walpole as a collector, and the sale to Catherine the Great, which for the first time raised issues of the nation's heritage.
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New. 0856674389. *** FREE UPGRADE to Courier/Priority Shipping Upon Request ***-*** IN STOCK AND IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FOR SHIPMENT-Flawless copy, brand new, pristine, never opened--176 pages; 146 illustrations including 70 in color. Publisher description: During his lifetime, Sir Robert Walpole (1675-1745), first Prime Minister of England, amassed a magnificent collection of paintings and sculptures at Houghton Hall, the house he built in Norfolk. This book recreates the Houghton of Walpole's day, with many of its original paintings, drawings, and objets d'art, arranged room-by-room as Walpole and his friends and advisors, notably the great designer William Kent, would have shown them. --with a bonus offer--
