This room is so large and elaborate that photographs don’t do it justice. The theme on the frieze depicts a forest with the court of Diana, amid attendant deer, lions, elephants, camels and other animals along with scenes of country life and deer and boar hunting.
The court of Diana, the virgin goddess and huntress, is probably a deliberate allusion to Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen.
To either side of the window recess, and rather more skilfully modelled than the rest of the frieze, are allegorical figures of Venus chastising Cupid, and Summer, based on Flemish engravings by Crispin van der Passe from designs by Martin de Vos. The hunting scenes elsewhere in the frieze are based on engravings by Philip Galle after Johannes Stradanus. *
Bess would have sat under a canopy like this although this one actually made in the early seventeenth century and pre-dates her. It was placed here by the bachelor Duke in the nineteenth century.
*From the National Trust guidebook.
If she were around today I doubt Bess of Hardwick would be impressed with the minimalist look, CP.
The effect is a bit diminished from it’s day but I think it would please her that her house had survived
What absolutely stunning interiors. WOW!
They are quite amazing
This is a wonderfull place, i already mentioned that propabilly …
I know you would love to visit with your camera!
That is absolutely amazing Cherie!
I know you would enjoy a visit there
Mostly a bit over the top for my taste
……but I do LOVE that fireplace!
It is very interesting to visit but I think it would be a bit too fussy to live in.
Can you imagine a house being built to this specification today?
I can’t imagine houses being built today still standing after such a long length of time.