Lot Essay
This and the following lot form part of one of the original sets of views painted by Pieter Andreas Rysbrack, the eldest brother of the sculptor John Michael, of the gardens at Chiswick - the country seat of Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington (1695-1753). Profoundly influenced by the work of Andrea Palladio, Burlington created something at his 'Villa by the Thames' which was to become the touchstone of Neo-Palladian architecture, his most famous collaboration being that with the painter, interior decorator, architect and landscape gardener, William Kent.
Burlington is thought to have begun his remodelling of the gardens in 1716, the year after he returned from the Grand Tour. While architectural evidence date Rysbrack's views to circa 1729-31 (supported by one having been engraved by Charles du Bosc in 1731), considerable alterations were still in progress when Jacques Rigaud executed his drawings, 1733-4, although major work seem to have stopped shortly thereafter.
This view shows two of the three alleys which formed the so-called patte d'oie: with the Domed Building (or 'Pagan Temple'), built by Gibbs from 1716, on the right; and the Casina or Bagnio, designed by Burlington in 1717 under Campbell's guidance, in the centre. The Bagnio was pulled down in 1778 and the Domed Building was demolished in 1784. The lead statue of Cain and Abel, or Sampson slaying the Philistine as the group is now known, is at Chatsworh. A version of this view is at Chatsworth, for discussion of which see J. Harris, The Palladian Revival: Lord Burlington, His Villa and Garden at Chiswick, 1994, p. 228, no. 90.
It has long been held that Burlington commissioned two sets of eight garden views: one to hang at Burlington House, Piccadilly; and the other for Lord Burlington's sister, Lady Bedingfeld. Most of the former set survives at Chatsworth while the latter (of which this and the following lot are a part) appeared on the London art market in 1952 and was unfortunately broken up. One of the latter set, A View from across the new Gardens towards the Bagnio, was sold in these Rooms on 10 November 1995 (lot 38, £45,000).
Burlington is thought to have begun his remodelling of the gardens in 1716, the year after he returned from the Grand Tour. While architectural evidence date Rysbrack's views to circa 1729-31 (supported by one having been engraved by Charles du Bosc in 1731), considerable alterations were still in progress when Jacques Rigaud executed his drawings, 1733-4, although major work seem to have stopped shortly thereafter.
This view shows two of the three alleys which formed the so-called patte d'oie: with the Domed Building (or 'Pagan Temple'), built by Gibbs from 1716, on the right; and the Casina or Bagnio, designed by Burlington in 1717 under Campbell's guidance, in the centre. The Bagnio was pulled down in 1778 and the Domed Building was demolished in 1784. The lead statue of Cain and Abel, or Sampson slaying the Philistine as the group is now known, is at Chatsworh. A version of this view is at Chatsworth, for discussion of which see J. Harris, The Palladian Revival: Lord Burlington, His Villa and Garden at Chiswick, 1994, p. 228, no. 90.
It has long been held that Burlington commissioned two sets of eight garden views: one to hang at Burlington House, Piccadilly; and the other for Lord Burlington's sister, Lady Bedingfeld. Most of the former set survives at Chatsworth while the latter (of which this and the following lot are a part) appeared on the London art market in 1952 and was unfortunately broken up. One of the latter set, A View from across the new Gardens towards the Bagnio, was sold in these Rooms on 10 November 1995 (lot 38, £45,000).