134 PERliVSHIRE TAPES IKY. 



The following additional information has been generously 

 contributed by Miss Cotton : — 



"In the first hanging of the Elements, '■Earth' is repre- 

 sented by Ceres in her chariot in the midst of a garden scene, 

 with fountains in the background. A female stands by the side 

 of the goddess, wearing a mural crown. Lions and other wild 

 beasts occupy the foreground. The bordering is of fruit and 

 flowers. 



"In the second hanging the ' ^^> ' is personified by Jupiter 

 and Juno throned on the clouds, with Boreas blowing up a 

 storm in the background. In the foreground are storks, pelicans, 

 etc. 



" In the third, ' Fire ' is idealised by Vulcan working at a forge, 

 attended by Venus and Cupid. Here we have a cavern, with a 

 furnace in its recesses. The bordering has pistols and instru- 

 ments of metal. 



" The fourth iianging, for ' JVa/er,' exhibits Neptune and An(ho- 

 meda in a chariot drawn by sea-horses with fishes' tails. The 

 border has seaweed, shells, coral, etc. 



"The fifth piece has a little Cupid standing before Venus, 

 with a pretty bordering of flowers. Pastoral landscapes of great 

 beauty appear in the top and sides of each bordering, with 

 medallions containing symbolical emblems at the corners. 



"The tapestry is of very fine and elaborate workmanship, and 

 is said by the family to have been designed by Le Brun." 



Three hangings of "The Seasons," representing 'Spring,' 

 'Summer,' and ' AVinter,' are preserved at Sudbury. They are 

 in excellent preservation, and probably formed part of the original 

 set ordered at Mortlake, by Williams, Archbisliop of York, at a 

 cost of ;^2,5oo." At any rate, these hangings bear the Mortlake 



* Miinlz, " History of Tapestry," p. 303. 



