32 THE SMITHSON DRAWINGS 



in his "Anecdotes of Painting," "John Smithson was an 

 architect in the service of the Earls of Newcastle. He built 

 part of Welbeck in 1604, the riding-house there in 1623* 

 and the stables in 1625 ; and when William Cavendish, Earl 

 and afterwards Duke of Newcastle, proposed to repair and make 

 great additions to Bolsover Castle, Smithson, it is said, was sent 

 to Italy to collect designs. From them I suppose it was that 

 the noble apartment erected by that duke, and lately pulled 

 down, was completed, Smithson dying in i648. 2 Many of 

 Smithson's drawings were purchased by the late Lord Byron 

 from his descendants who lived in Bolsover." On Lord Byron's 

 death the drawings were purchased by the Rev. D'Ewes Coke, 

 and they are now in the possession of his descendants at 

 Brookhill Hall. 



Many of the drawings have no title or other means of 

 identifying them ; but such as have go to show that Smithson, 

 who, it would seem, was not only buried but also lived at 

 Bolsover on the north-east border of Derbyshire, had a con- 

 siderable local practice, as well as a certain amount of work in 

 London. The riding- house and stables at Welbeck, mentioned 

 by Walpole, are both in the collection, and there are also several 

 drawings relating to Bolsover Castle. 



The buildings which go to make the " castle " may be divided 

 into three groups : First, there is the castellated portion, built 

 on the site of the old keep and begun in 1613 : this part is still 

 in good repair. Then there is a long range on the terrace the 

 " noble apartment " mentioned by Walpole. This was built by 

 Sir William Cavendish, afterwards Duke of Newcastle, who pre- 

 sumably found the older building too small. Its principal apart- 

 ment was a magnificent gallery, but, so far as its ruinous state 

 permits the other rooms to be made out (and among them was 

 a kitchen), it would appear to have been a completely equipped 

 residence. On the view of the castle which adorns the Duke of 

 Newcastle's book on Horsemanship, this building is called " La 

 Gallerie." The third group comprises the riding-house and its 

 adjuncts, which adjoin the gallery at its western end. 



The few drawings in the Smithson collection which refer 

 to Bolsover are all, except one, connected with the castellated 



1 "As appears by his name over the gate." 



- It was, however, John Smithson's son, Huntingdon, who died in 1648. 

 John Smithson died in 1634. 



