7/10/07 - Part 2 / The Wallace Collection near Manchester

We walked from the school to the Collection, which was five minutes away. The collection is housed in Hertford (pronounced Hartford) House the home of the late Robert Wallace (1818-1890), he was the illegitimate son of the 4th Marquee of Hertford. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Marquee’s where all great collectors and amassed great works of art, not only painting, but furniture and porcelain.

But my most favorite part about going to see the collection was the house itself. Neoclassical in style with columns up front. It faced a small park and with the surrounding victorian styled homes I could almost imagine what the neighborhood looked when the family was in residence. Just an aside (as my teacher is fond of saying) the Duke of Manchester built the house in 1776 and lived there until 1788. In 1797 the 2nd Marquee leased the property and bought it from there. It’s been in the family ever since.

Every Marquee had close personal ties to the royals. The 3rd Marquee, Lord Yarmouth, was great friend with Prinny and both collected art together. The where such great friends that Prinny gave Lord Yarmouth a painting done by Gainsborough of his mistress Mrs. Robinson, it’s quite beautiful. It’s also rumored that Prinny (aka GeorgeIV) became very good friends with the Marqueenious and may have been an affair of some kind.

The rooms where so big and bright.. the walls where covered in damask walls. The perfect backdrop to showcase the many Rococo and Boroque style of paintings. Not to mention the furniture. Very boroque in style also.

Now the bart about the afternoon is that since my feet where such a wreck I just couldn’t appreciate the whole afternoon. I’ll have to go back another day and take my time to really observe the whole collection, and take pictures too. Even if I had a camera with me because we where in a group we weren’t allowed to take pictures, but if you go by yourself you can. Another thing to add to the list of places to revisit.

After class ended, I sat on one of the benches out front, called my mother and just enjoyed the cooling afternoon and listed to the wind rustle through the trees and the faint sound of cars driving through the miniscule roads, and of course to give my feet a rest, because they needed.

After the break, I slowly hobbled my way to a bus stop and prayed I’d get a seat once it arrived, which I did, and then walked 3 blocks to my flat once the bus dropped me off in Euston Station.

My feet have never, NEVER ached as much as they did this afternoon...can I get new ones? Pretty please!!!

Again, pray the feet are feeling better tomorrow.. I have the British Museum for the afternoon and my first student activity, Thames Walking Tour (aka pub walk). I really want to go to both.

more to come.