The State Bed Chamber, Stowe Buckinghamshire

Joseph Nash British
1838
Not on view
This drawing preserves a lost interior at one of England’s grandest 18th century country houses built by Richard Grenville, 2nd Earl Temple (1711-1779) and his successor George Greville, Marquis of Buckingham (1753-1813). Completed in the 18th century, the lavish interiors survived only until 1848, when the overspending of the 1st and 2nd dukes of Buckingham, forced a sale of the contents. Joseph Nash sketched what was known as the State Bed Chamber around 1838. In 1848 the elaborate four-poster bed was moved to a room at the other end of the house to accommodate a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the room was renamed the Duchess’s Drawing Room. Part of Stowe School today, it is known as the Garter Room after the star emblem at the center of the ceiling.

Christie's 1848 catalogue for the Stowe sale describes objects seen in the drawing such as nos. 230-31: "Two cabinets of oriental japan lacquer, with folding doors, shelves and drawers, and sliding fronts on carved and gilt stands." No. 243: "A pair of high-back Venetian armchairs, carved and gift, the seats covered with crimson velvet." Nos. 294-95: "A toilet table of silver and toilet glass in silver frame to correspond....presented by George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, to the Countess of Shrewsbury at Avington...now the Countess of Jersey."

A 1797 description of the State Bed Chamber notes that the bed, marble mantle and ceiling were designed by Giovanni Battista Borra (Italian, 1713-1770) and the picture over the mantle is "a magnificent copy by Sir Godrey Kneller, of the famous picture of Charles I attended by Monsieur St. Simon, painted by Vandye and now at Hampton Court."

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The State Bed Chamber, Stowe Buckinghamshire
  • Artist: Joseph Nash (British, Buckinghamshire 1809–1878 Kensington)
  • Date: 1838
  • Medium: Watercolor
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 8 13/16 × 11 5/16 in. (22.4 × 28.7 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019
  • Object Number: 2019.282.6
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.