IX. You are next conducted into Queen Elizabeth’s or the picture gallery, which is richly adorned with the following paintings: King James I. and his Queen, whole lengths, by Vansomer; Rome in flames, by Giulio Romano; a Roman family, by Titian; the Holy family, after Raphael; Judith and Holofernes, by Tintoret; a night piece, by Skalkin; the pool of Bethesda, by Tintoret; a portrait of Charles VI. Emperor of Germany, by Sir Godfrey Kneller; the wise men making their offerings to Christ, by Paulo Veronese; two usurers, an admired piece, by the famous blacksmith of Antwerp; Perseus and Andromeda, by Schiavone; Aretine and Titian, by Titian; the Duke of Gloucester, a whole length by Sir Godfrey Kneller; Prince George of Denmark, a whole length by Dahl; King Henry VIII. by Hans Holbein; Vandanelli, an Italian statuary, by Correggio; the founders of different orders in the Romish church, by Titian and Rembrant; a rural piece in low life, by Bassano; a fowl piece, by Varelst; the battle of Spurs near Terevaen in France, in 1513, by Hans Holbein; two views of Windsor Castle, by Wosterman, and two Italian markets, by Michael Angelo. In this room is also a curious amber cabinet, presented by the King of Prussia to Queen Caroline.
There is here likewise Queen Caroline’s china closet, filled with a great variety of curious china elegantly disposed, and the whole room is finely gilt and ornamented; over the chimney are the pictures of Prince Arthur, and his two sisters, the children of King Henry VII. by Holbein; and in this closet is also a fine amber cabinet, presented to Queen Anne, by Dr. Robinson, Bishop of London, and plenipotentiary at the congress of Utrecht.
X. From this gallery a return is made to the King’s closet, the cieling of which is adorned with the story of Jupiter and Leda. Among the curiosities in this room is a large frame of needle work, said to be wrought by Mary Queen of Scots, while a prisoner in Fotheringhay castle; among other figures, she herself is represented supplicating for justice before the Virgin Mary, with her son, afterwards King James I. standing by her; in a scrawl is worked these words Sapientiam amavi et exquisivi a juventute mea. This piece of work, after its having lain a long time in the wardrobe, was set up by order of Queen Anne. The pictures are, a Magdalen, by Carracci; a sleeping cupid, by Correggio; contemplation, by Carracci; Titian’s daughter, by herself; and a German Lady, by Raphael.
XI. You are next conducted into the King’s dressing room, where the cieling is painted with the story of Jupiter and Danae; and adorned with the pictures of the birth of Jupiter, by Giulio Romano; and of a naked Venus asleep, by Sir Peter Lelly.
XII. On leaving the above room, you are conducted into the King’s bed chamber, which is hung with tapestry representing the story of Hero and Leander; the bed of state, which was set up in the reign of King Charles II. is of fine blue cloth, richly embroidered with gold and silver; and on the cieling that Prince is represented in the robes of the garter, under a canopy supported by Time, Jupiter and Neptune, with a wreath of laurel over his head, and he is attended by Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, paying their obedience to him. The paintings are, King Charles II. when a boy, in armour, by Vandyke; and St. Paul stoned at Lystra, by Paulo Veronese.
XIII. The cieling of the King’s drawing room, which is next seen, is finely painted with King Charles II. riding in a triumphal carr, drawn by the horses of the sun, attended by Fame, Peace, and the polite arts; Hercules is driving away Rebellion, Sedition and Ignorance; Britannia and Neptune, properly attended, are paying obedience to the Monarch as he passes; and the whole is a lively representation of the restoration of that Monarch, and the introduction of arts, and sciences in these kingdoms. In the other parts of the cieling are painted the labours of Hercules, with festoons of fruit and flowers, the whole beautifully decorated in gold and stone colour. The pictures hung up in this room are, a converted Chinese, by Sir Godfrey Kneller; the Marquis of Hamilton, after Vandyke, by Hanneman; Herodias’s daughter, by Carlo Dolci; a Magdalen, by Carlo Dolci; and a Venetian Lady, by Titian.
XIV. You next enter the King’s drawing room, where the painted cieling represents the banquet of the gods, with a variety of fish and fowl. The pictures hung up here are, the portraits of his present Majesty, and the late Queen Caroline, whole lengths; Hercules and Omphale, Cephalus and Procris, the birth of Venus, and Venus and Adonis, the four last by Genario; a naval triumph of King Charles II. by Verrio; the marriage of St. Catharine, by Dawkers; nymphs and satyrs, by Rubens and Snyders; hunting the wild boar, by Snyders; a picture of still life, by Girardo; the taking of the bears, by Snyders; a night piece, being a family singing by candle light, by Quistin; a Bohemian family, by de Brie; divine love, by an unknown hand; and Lacy, a famous comedian in King Charles the Second’s time, in three characters, by Wright.
Many of the paintings in this room are best seen at noon by the reflection of the sun; the carving of this chamber is very beautiful, representing a great variety of fowl, fish and fruit, done to the utmost perfection on lime wood, by Mr. Gibbons, a famous statuary and carver in the reign of King Charles II.
XV. In the King’s audience chamber, the canopy, which was set up in the reign of King Charles II. is of green velvet, richly embroidered with gold, and on the cieling is represented the establishment of the church of England at the restoration, in the characters of England, Scotland and Ireland, attended by Faith, Hope, Charity, and the Cardinal Virtues; Religion triumphs over Superstition and Hypocrisy, who are driven by cupids from before the face of the church, all which are represented in their proper attitudes, and highly finished. The pictures hung up in this room are, our Saviour before Pilate, by Michael Angelo; the Apostles at our Saviour’s tomb, by Scavoni; Peter, James and John, by Michael Angelo; and the Duchess of Richmond, by Vandyke.
XVI. The King’s presence chamber is hung with tapestry containing the history of Queen Athaliah, and the cieling is finely adorned with painting, Mercury is represented with an original portrait of King Charles II. which he shews to the four quarters of the world introduced by Neptune; Fame declaring the glory of that Prince, and Time driving away Rebellion, Sedition, and their companions. Over the canopy is Justice in stone colour, shewing the arms of Britain to Thames and the river nymphs, with the star of Venus, and this label, Sydus Carolynum, at the lower end of the chamber is Venus in a marine carr drawn by tritons and sea-nymphs. The portraits hung up are, Henry Duke of Gloucester, brother to King Charles II. and his governess the Countess of Dorset, both by Vandyke; and father Paul, by Tintoret.