CIRCA 1770

THE HERM PILASTERS OF VEIL-DRAPED NYMPHS ON THIS RICHLY CARVED CHIMNEYPIECE DERIVE FROM THE ROMAN PATTERNS POPULARISED BY J. VARDY, SOME DESIGNS OF MR. INIGO JONES AND MR. WILLIAM KENT, 1744 AND ABRAHAM SWAN'S THE BRITISH ARCHITECT, 1745. THE TABLET OF A PIPING SHEPHERDESS AND SHEPHERD REFLECTS THE PASTORAL VIGNETTES POPULARIZED BY THE SCULPTORS HENRY CHEERE (D. 1781) AND WILLIAM COLLINS (D. 1793). IT IS FRAMED BY TABLETS WITH WINGED GRIFFIN, SACRED TO THE POETRY DEITY APOLLO, AND REFLECTING THE ANTIQUE FASHION POPULARIZED BY ARCHITECTS SUCH AS ROBERT ADAM (D. 1792) AND JAMES WYATT (D. 1813).