07.04.2013 Views

Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

164<br />

HAMPTON COURT<br />

Below, in the centre of this piece, is a scroll <strong>with</strong> the motto in<br />

hopelessdog-Latin: —<br />

Cemporfbus. fulcor.quantumlibct.inclitu. fama.<br />

31psa. me.claiisctuut. tempore.sera . piam.<br />

dun.proDest. )iin»3. .Diu.cum. fortiter. no.<br />

31>DiDt. in.latcbrts. jam.me. tempus.cDar.<br />

Two points especially invite attention. The classical<br />

and the literary interests are here combined in a manner<br />

eminently characteristic of the Renaissance. There is<br />

the ostentation of antique learning, the sense of design<br />

and unity of composition which is obtained from the<br />

study of classic models in literature and art. And besides<br />

this there is the curioussimilarityin idea, andeven<br />

here and there in detail, to the magnificent " Triumph<br />

ofJulius Cæsar " <strong>by</strong> Mantegna, which CharlesI.bought<br />

and placed so appropriately at <strong>Hampton</strong> <strong>Court</strong>.<br />

The third series consists of the <strong>three</strong> pieces which<br />

are now hung on the west side of the room. They<br />

are also of old Flemish manufacture. They represent<br />

the warfare of the Seven Cardinal Virtues <strong>with</strong><br />

the Seven Deadly Sins, and the Blessed Trinity1 in<br />

judgment, <strong>with</strong> Peace, Mercy, Truth, and Justice<br />

standing before. Pride, Gluttony, Acedia, Anger,<br />

Envy, Luxury, Covetousness, all mounted on strange<br />

beasts, are attacked <strong>by</strong> Elope. Latin legends explain<br />

each scene. The ideas are of a piece <strong>with</strong> those of old<br />

moralities, which, it may be, were often played in the<br />

hall adjoining the room where these tapestries now<br />

hang. These are probably the sets which are mentioned<br />

1 " Three oldpersons inepiscopalhabits <strong>with</strong> crowns on theirheads<br />

and sceptres in theirhands."

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!