The South Drawing Room, Levens Hall, Westmorland

Levens Hall is the largest Elizabethan House in Cumberland and Westmorland and boasts a superb garden, notable for its topiary. (The garden was the subject of a series of watercolours by George S. Elgood, 1851-1943). The present watercolour depicts the south drawing room, which contains a noteworthy chimneypiece depicting Samson to the left, and Hercules (with his club) to the right of the opening. Above are figures of Touch, Smell and Taste, with Hearing and Sight reclining on the open pediment beyond. The panels between depict the four Elements and the four Seasons. The lozenged wall panelling still stands. The watercolour is typical of the work of Joseph Nash, who combined architectural fidelity with historical romanticism in his depiction of interiors.