The history of Hampton Court Palace in Tudor times . liam III.,afterwards underwent a transformation at the hands ofGeorge II. It would appear that originally they did notextend in height, beyond the heavy cornice above theoblong windows, and that the including of the round-windowstorey above, was an afterthought, which has certainly greatlyimproved them, both in proportion and in light. The orna-ments here, as in the Public Dining Room, are clearly notfrom any design of Sir Christopher Wren s; but may beattributed, with tolerable certainty, to Kent, a very indifferentarchitect, who was just c
The history of Hampton Court Palace in Tudor times . liam III.,afterwards underwent a transformation at the hands ofGeorge II. It would appear that originally they did notextend in height, beyond the heavy cornice above theoblong windows, and that the including of the round-windowstorey above, was an afterthought, which has certainly greatlyimproved them, both in proportion and in light. The orna-ments here, as in the Public Dining Room, are clearly notfrom any design of Sir Christopher Wren s; but may beattributed, with tolerable certainty, to Kent, a very indifferentarchitect, who was just coming into fashion, and was much ^ Lady Sundons Memoirs^ vol. i., p. 212. 244 History of Hampton Court Palace. [1731 employed by George II. The Guard Chamber, with itsseven tall oblong windows, and the same number of circu-lar ones above, and its great chimney-piece of white marble,the sides of which represent Yeomen of the Guard, is re-markably fine. It is 54 feet long, by 34 feet wide, and 28high. Nevertheless the decoration of these rooms is ob-. The Queens Guard Chamber. noxious to Walpoles criticism of Kent, that his chimney-pieces were too ponderous, and his constant introduction ofpediments and the members of architecture over doors, andwithin rooms, was disproportioned and cumbrous. It was in George reign, also, that the Queens GreatStaircase—which gives access, from the Clock Court and from 1731] Kent decorates the Queens Rooms. 245 the cloister of the Fountain Court, to the Haunted Galleryon one side, to the Communication Gallery on the other, andto the Queens Guard Chamber in the middle—was finishedand decorated. As far as size goes, being 52 feet long, by30 feet wide and 40 feet high, it is a worthy approach to theQueens State Rooms; and the flight of stairs is fine, as isalso the balustrade of wrought iron. The walls and ceiling,however, are painted, or rather besmeared with paint, in away that does little credit to the artist, who executed thework, and wh
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjecthampton, bookyear1885
