ICKWORTH HOUSE...

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ICKWORTH HOUSE: HORRINGER, BURY ST EDMUNDS, SUFFOLK

Article and Illustrations by Dave Williams...

Ickworth House is a  Georgian Italianate palace in an idyllic Suffolk landscape which, although finished around 1803, was not completed until the East Wing was finished in the early 1830s. Ickworth had been owned by the Hervey family from the 15th century.

The house was begun for the 4th Earl of Bristol and is now in the hands of the National Trust.

The entrance front is over 180 metres long and is dominated by the massive Rotunda. It was designed by Mario Asprucci the Younger & Francis Sandys in 1794. The large park and garden was designed by Capability Brown.

"The house is adorned with many portrait paintings..."

The classic entrance hall with its giant columns and marble fireplace is breath-taking. The house has many original pieces of Regency and Georgian furniture and china.There are also beautiful pieces of Huguenot silver on display, some of which are described as the best in Britain.

 

The house is adorned with many portrait paintings, perhaps pride of place go to Gainsborough’s ‘The Third Earl of Bristol’ and the ‘self portrait’ by the acclaimed French painter Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun. On the first floor there are two display cabinets full of miniature portraits, this display of miniatures on its own is well worth the visit. 

The two paintings pictured are by miniature artist Dave Williams and show the entrance to Ickworth and his version of the self portrait by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun.

www.dollshousepaintings.co.uk