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1 of 253523 objects
Chimneypiece 1699
Marble, gilt bronze, glass | 300.0 x 232.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 1080
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Grey marble chimneypiece rising to a scrolled pediment, surmounted by a female bust above two kissing doves, flanked by trails of fruit and flowers with winged putto on either side, all in white marble; inset with an oval mirror with gilt-metal foliate swags.
In 1699, William III resumed the building work of Hampton Court Palace that had been started in 1684 but was put on hold in 1694 following the death of Queen Mary. This chimneypiece was made in 1699 by the Flemish sculptor working in England, John Nost, who was influenced by the 17th-century Flemish-Italianate style and was best known for his decorative garden sculptures. This chimneypiece was originally made for the Great Bedchamber but is now located in the Queen's Gallery.
William’s commission to Nost included a second chimney piece with a relief of Venus in her chariot (RCIN 1222) which is considered to be one of his finest works and is still extant in the Cartoon Gallery at Hampton Court Palace.Provenance
Acquired by William III in 1699 for the Great Bedchamber at Hampton Court, at a cost of £275 for the surround (Nost's accounts, 24th Jan 1699) and £7 for the oval glass (Gerritt Johnson's account).
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Creator(s)
(sculptor)(nationality) -
Medium and techniques
Marble, gilt bronze, glass
Measurements
300.0 x 232.0 cm (whole object)
Category
Object type(s)