The eldest is to the left, standing, her right arm clasping a stem
of tree, round which twines a vine; her left hand giving a rose to
her younger sister; she is dressed in white. Her sister is kneeling
to the right, facing in front, and takes the rose with her left
hand; her right rests on a lictor's fasces. On canvas, 4 ft. 6 in.
high, by 3 ft. 7 in. wide.
[Illustration: Decoration]
=Queen's Closet.=
This small room, which is but 23 feet 3 inches long by 12 feet wide, and
12 feet 9 inches high, is called in Pyne's drawing, published in 1817,
"The Queen's Closet,"--and this most probably is its correct
designation, though in Faulkner's "History of Kensington," published but
three years after, it is described as the "Queen's Dressing Room." Its
walls were at that time still entirely panelled with the oak wainscot
with which Wren had covered them. Afterwards all this was removed and
the walls plastered and distempered, the room being used as a kitchen.
The existent oak chair-rail and cornice, inserted during the last few
months, are copied from old models in this palace.
* * * * *
Across the angle, where was originally the fire-place, is temporarily
fixed a very beautiful =stone chimney-piece=, formerly in Westminster
Palace, in one of the rooms on the north side of Westminster Hall. When
the old law-courts on that side were removed, this chimney-piece was
preserved by the Office of Works. It is one of the finest specimens
extant of a late Tudor domestic chimney-piece work, bearing the initial
and crown of Queen Elizabeth.
Pictures of Old London.
In this chamber are collected various pictures of Old London, moved from
Hampton Court and other royal palaces. Few of them, excepting one or two
attributed to Scott, have much artistic merit, but they are interesting
as representations of the topography of London, and especially of the
banks of the Thames.
20 View of the Horse Guards from St. James's Park
(_1022_) . . . . . JAMES.
The buildings of the Horse Guards are seen on the right, and in the
centre distance, Westminster.
21 View on the Thames--Old London Bridge and Fishmongers' Hall
(_1044_) . . . . . JAMES.
The view is taken eastward; and right across the picture is the old
bridge, with the houses built on it. On the left are Fishmongers'
Hall and the column on Fish Street Hill.
These are two of a series of views of Old London from the Thames,
by William James, an imitator and probably a pupil of Canaletti's,
though he resembles him in little except his mechanical precision.
His works, however, are interesting to the antiquarian, as they are
almost photographic in their accuracy.
22 View on the Thames--Old Somerset House and Temple Gardens
(_1023_) . . . . . JAMES.
The north bank of the Thames is seen, looking eastward, from about
the position of the middle of the present Waterloo bridge. On the
extreme left is old Somerset House, with its landing-stairs, next
comes the Temple, and in the distance St. Paul's. Behind are seen
the spires of St. Mary-le-Strand, St. Clement Danes, St. Bride's,
Fleet Street, etc. On canvas, 2 ft. high, by 3 ft. 8 in. wide.
23 View on the Thames--The Savoy, the Temple, &c.
(_1031_) . . . . . JAMES.
On the left is the old Savoy Palace with its curious chequered
brickwork; more in the middle old Somerset House, the Temple, etc.
On the right is seen a portion of the south bank of the Thames.