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International Art Treasures Web Magazine May 2006 |
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House and estate has a long history tied to that of the country in which is it found. England. The Cavendish family has owned the property and the various homes upon it since December of 1549. The Devonshire Collection is considered to be one of the greatest private collections in the world and luckily for the public the house and grounds are open for their enjoyment. It is located in Derbyshire, England.
The Cavendish FamilyBess of Hardwick is credited with building the first house at Chatsworth. She and her second husband, Sir William Cavendish, bought the manor of Chatsworth in 1549 and within a few years began building upon the land. One of the pieces they built, the Hunting Tower, stands to this day. The couple were blessed with children. Upon the death of their first son their second boy became their heir. He was named Baron Cavendish in 1605 and later became the Earl of Devonshire in 1618. Sir William Cavendish died in 1557, but Bess, who was married four times, lived at the house she completed at Chatsworth with her fourth husband, George Talbot, who was the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury. Queen Elizabeth I ordered Shrewsbury to see to the custody of a royal prisoner; Mary, Queen of Scots. The Earl brought the former Scottish Queen to Chatsworth on several occasions. She was kept in the apartment above the great hall. This is commonly called the Queen of Scots rooms. Given this is several centuries later those particular rooms have undergone significant changes, scarcely resembling their appearance when they were a royal prison.
This William Cavendish patriotically supported the Glorious Revolution, thus bringing William of Orange to the throne of England. He served as King William's Lord Stewart. For his work and loyalty he was named the Duke of Devonshire and Marquis of Harrington. Royalty have long enjoyed hospitality at Chatsworth though most, unlike the Scottish Queen, could come and go as they pleased. King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra were regular visitors.
The Cavendish family were forced to sell some of their art following the unexpected death of the 10th Duke who was 55. Nine works of art and many rare books, as well as Hardwick Hall and its supporting farms and woods, were given to the Treasury in lieu of cash, while significant parcels of land and and other assets were sold. It took nearly 20 years to make these arrangements. The Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement took over the rest of the estate. The next Duke, the 11th, and his family, lived away from Chatsworth following its decline during the Second World War. It was simply too large to maintain the property as a family home with the necessary rationing and other restrictions of this time. It wasn't until 1959 that the Cavendish family returned home after modernization was undertaken.
The family live in rooms on the ground and first floors and for this privilege the Duke pays rent. It wasn't until 1981, after negotiations concluded with the British government that day-to-day operations of Chatsworth were completely taken over by the Chatsworth House Trust which is a charitable foundation. The 11th Duke passed away in May 2004 and was succeeded by his son, Peregrine Cavendish, who was born in 1944. The Dowager Duchess still resides at Chatsworth.
Among the highlights that will be of particular note for art fans are fourteen works that were created by Lucian Freud, a Cavendish family friend. Whimsical folks will enjoy spotting the tricycle, a gift from the Prince of Wales. Artists that are prominently featured at Chatsworth are Gwen John, Duncan Grant, Walter Sickert and William Nicholson. The Collection includes several Old Master and British paintings, portrait miniatures, watercolors, and the magnificent collection of Old Master and architectural drawings. One of the family portraits was undertaken by Gainsborough, that of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (1757-1806).
England has many fine homes that are available for the public to enjoy, and one that should not be missed is Chatsworth House. |
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