Book Description

The estate of Goodwood is glorious not only for its famous racecourse and motor racing circuit but also for its magnificent art collection. This superbly illustrated book reveals the treasures of Goodwood. Curator Rosemary Baird tells the story of the Dukes of Richmond, from the birth of the 1st Duke (son of Louise de Kéroualle and Charles II), who purchased Goodwood. She describes events such as the Duchess of Richmond's famous ball, from which officers were called to fight in the Battle of Waterloo ('some arrived at the field of battle in silk stockings and dancing shoes') and how, with wealth largely derived from a tax on coal leaving Newcastle, the Richmond family developed Goodwood and acquired works of art to adorn it. In particular the book focuses on the great 18th-century collections of the 2nd and 3rd Dukes. The 2nd Duke was a leading exponent of the Palladian movement, building Richmond House on the banks of the Thames at Whitehall as well as an extension to Goodwood. He commissioned from Canaletto two views of the Thames, which were painted from Richmond House. The 3rd Duke patronized some of the greatest painters and architects of the day – at the age of 24 he gave the unknown George Stubbs his first commission – and collected French furniture, tapestries and porcelain.