Catalogue of Pictures Belonging to the Earl of Ilchester.
Title framed within typographical ornaments. 4 p.l., 219, [1] p. 4to, orig. decorative brown morocco with gilt armorial device and mottos on upper cover (corners a trifle rubbed), flat spine gilt, a.e.g. N.p.: [Chiswick Press] “Privately Printed,” 1883.
One of forty copies of this rare catalogue in the deluxe presentation binding. Fox Strangways (1847-1905), possessed a vast collection of family portraits and Old Master paintings spread across a house in London at 42 Belgrave Square and three country houses, Melbury House and Abbotsbury Castle in Dorset, and Redlynch House in Wiltshire. The catalogue was compiled by his mother, Amelia Fox Strangways.
The 4th Earl, William Thomas-Horner Fox Strangways (1795-1865), uncle of the 5th Earl and a prominent diplomat, was posted throughout Europe, most notably Italy, where he was an early proponent of artists from the period of Giotto and Cimabue. Despite his enormous contributions to the family collection, the 4th Earl’s name is curiously not found in this catalogue. In 1913, a fire destroyed Abbotsbury Castle and its contents, making this an essential record of that part of the collection. Many of the paintings purchased by the 4th Earl were bequeathed to Christ Church, Oxford and to the Ashmolean Museum.
The catalogue lists 352 paintings, arranged by house, then by room. Many have lengthy descriptions about the artists and provenance.
Fine copy, lacking the errata slip.
Price: $1,950.00
Item ID: 6050
