Description

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Nice book in great condition. Pages in excellent condition. Images are beautiful bright and vivid. Some light marking to cover and cover pages due to age. No notes or highlighting. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> The part played by Queen Caroline in the discovery is by no means merely legendary. It is abundantly vouched for by Vertue? and others and there is every reason to believe that it was in fact by her at Kensington and in 1727 that the Windsor Holbeins (then a collection bound together in form of a book) were brought to light. This familiar anecdote nevertheless has been romanticized and misrepresented and needs to be seen afresh in its true perspective. The fact is that Queen Caroline found far more than she knew in other words that she discovered far less than she found. For the contents of the bureau was not merely the one priceless treasure which concerns us here but included the no less celebrated book of drawings by Leonardo and many more besides by various masters. What Queen Caroline found was not a single item mislaid or forgotten but a collection dating back to Stuart times of considerable size and diversity. Among the miscel- laneous MSS. in the British Museum is an inventory of the reign of George II listing these ‘Books of drawings and Prints in the Buroe in His Majesty’s Great Closset at Kensington’ and though it could be argued that not all the items mentioned in it were necessarily there in 1727 it is yet more than probable that such was the case. Vertue’s anecdote thus assumes an altogether new com- plexion and as the measure of Queen Caroline’s good fortune waxes that of her sagacity and dis- cernment wanes. Her complete apathy to all but the work of her great compatriot is indeed no less extraordinary in its way than the appreciation which she bestowed so enthusiastically upon him. (MP)