By J. B. Nichols, F.8.A. 



125 



In the Cabinet Room are many beautiful paintings of landscapes, 

 among which are — 



The Lake of Avernus, with the story of ^Eneas and the Sybil, 



by Joseph M. W. Turner, R.A. 

 The Lake of Nemi, by Wilson. 

 Diana and her Nymphs, by Zucharelli. 

 Two small Yiews at Venice, by Canaletti. 



But I must abstain from noticing the numerous valuable paint- 

 ings at Stourhead, and conclude by referring to the Drawings in 

 Water-colours, in which their late possessor took so decided an 

 interest. 



Sir Richard Hoare observes : — 



" Designs in "Water-Colours have made, within these few years past, a most 

 astonishing progress, and in many instances, may he said to have attained the 

 acme of perfection ; for I question if the series of Architectural Drawings of 

 Salisbury, executed by J. M. W. Turner, Esq., R.A., will ever be surpassed. 



' ' This rapid improvement in "Water-Colour Drawing has taken place within 

 my own memory ; for, during my younger days, Paul Sandby was the monarch 

 of the plain, and esteemed the best artist in this line. The most marked im- 

 provement in colouring was recognized in the drawings of Mr. John Smith, now 

 living, and to whom, as an instructor, I owe the little I know of Drawing, but 

 the advancement from drawing to painting in Water- Colours did not take place 

 till after the introduction into England of the Drawings of Louis du Cros, a 

 Swiss artist, who settled at Rome ; his works proved the force as well as conse- 

 quence that could be given to the unsubstantial body of Water-Colours, and to 

 him I attribute the first knowledge and power of Water-Colours. Thence have 

 sprung a numerous succession of artists in this line, a Turner, a Glover, a 

 Nicholson, Eeinagle, De Wint, Nash, cum multis aliis" 



I have purposely confined myself to a few of the articles at 

 Stourhead, but the collection is so valuable relative to every part of 

 the United Kingdon and Ireland, that I must content myself with 

 referring to the catalogue formed by me in 1840, of which the exe- 

 cutors of the late Sir Richard Hoare did me the honour to print a 

 small private impression for the use of the family and their friends, 

 and of which a few copies were presented to public libraries. A 

 copy is in Mr. Britton's collection now at Devizes and belonging to 

 the Wilts Archaeological Society, and another in the Library of the 

 Salisbury Literary Institution, now the property of the Institution. 



