 |
|
Mary Evans launches The Castle Howard Collection Mary Evans Picture Library, the leading source for historical images, is delighted to announce its newest collaboration - exclusive worldwide representation of the magnificent collection of Castle Howard in Yorkshire. One of Britain's finest and best-loved stately homes, Castle Howard, known to film buffs as the fictional Brideshead in Evelyn Waugh's "Brideshead Revisited", was built for Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle between 1699 and 1712. Designed by John Vanburgh, later the architect of Blenheim Palace, and assisted by the experienced Nicholas Hawksmoor, Castle Howard was the first private house in England to be endowed with a grand dome which crowns the lavish Baroque structure. The grounds are equally impressive with formal gardens, woodland, fountains and lakes setting off two further major buildings; the Temple of the Four Winds, and the Mausoleum built by Hawksmoor in which the 3rd Earl is interred. The collection, which is being scanned and photographed by Mary Evans on an ongoing basis, includes treasures from this Yorkshire landmark's superb interior and archive. The core of the picture collection was built up by the 3rd, 4th and 5th Earls during the 18th century, notably during their travels in Italy on the Grand Tour. Although some of the works were later sold, or destroyed by fire in 1940, valuable later additions were made by George, 9th Earl of Carlisle, the last with this title to live at Castle Howard. A great patron of the arts, and an accomplished painter himself, he forged friendships with some of the greatest of the Victorian artists and it is due to his legacy that works by Frederick, Lord Leighton, G.F. Watts and Walter Crane number among Castle Howard's numerous treasures. They join 18th century satirical cartoons, architectural drawings and hand-coloured engravings of birds and wildlife while other notable pieces include paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Rubens, Canaletto and Holbein (including an outstanding painting of King Henry VIII by the latter) which adorn the walls of Castle Howard. "Castle Howard is not only a landmark synonymous with history, art and culture," says Paul Brown, Managing Director of Mary Evans, "but it is also one familiar to many because of its continuing association with "Brideshead Revisited". With a new feature film out this autumn we're sure that Castle Howard will be in the spotlight once more. However, as a picture library, we're particularly proud to be working behind the scenes to bring this prestigious but relatively undiscovered collection to light, and in the process offer our clients such a superb, historically significant set of pictures." The full range of images from the Castle Howard Collection can be viewed at
www.maryevans.com and more information about Castle Howard can be found at
www.castlehoward.co.uk.
For further information, please contact: |
 |