The English Country House
Whether it’s the hallowed long galleries and tapestried ante-chambers of the great prodigy houses, or a rambling rose-covered manor tucked down a Dorset lane, we have a fascination with the English country house and a glamorous way of life that has, at least for most of us, altogether disappeared. With an evocative literary and cinematic legacy, from Du Maurier’s haunting ‘Manderley’ to Waugh’s ‘Brideshead’ and the Downton phenomenon, the decoration of the English manor can inspire even the smallest of rooms. A portrait for your pantry, or perhaps some heraldry for your hallway? Gather some inspo from this fine fettled lot!
This spacious country house interior by notable Welsh artist Frank Brangwyn certainly draws the eye down an enfilade of arches.
Sir Frank Brangwyn R.A - Early 20th Century LithographDecadent Interior
Earls, Baronets, Viscounts, they’re all here in this set of heraldic crests. Hang them in pairs or a set over a colourful wall or wallpaper for some noble charm.
Meticulously detailed, this richly furnished bedroom reminds of us Knole, home to the Sackville family and one of the largest houses in the land.
Fine Late 19th Century Watercolour - Jacobean Bedroom Interior
Pastoral landscapes are typically found in grand houses, often depicting their surrounding estates. Ornately framed, we’d happily follow this cart down the winding track to a lakeside country house, nestled in a copse of trees.
An exquisite lesson in chiaroscuro, this copy after Corregio is one of our finest pieces here at Sulis and has been carefully restored to reveal subtle details previously unknown in the composition.
After Antonio Allegri da Correggio (1489–1534) - c.1820 Oil, La Zingarella
Is there anything more stately than the crown, catching the light of the moon before being concealed for the duration of the Interregnum in this accomplished watercolour?
Attrib. Alexander Chisholm (1792-1847)- Framed Watercolour, The Scottish Regalia
This proud display of the Campbell coat of arms in finely executed embroidery with golden thread.
Once home to the theatrical aesthete Lord Berners, the portraits at Faringdon House remind us of this equally theatrical portrait of British stage and screen actor Leslie French. With a substantial gilt frame of significant scale, it would certainly hold its own in a large space.
Charles Mendelssohn Horsfall (1865-1942) - Oil, Portrait of Leslie French
In an impressive frame, this still life echoes the traditional game arrangements traditionally hung in aristocratic dining rooms, adding a macabre element to feasting your way through the evening.
The silk ribbon blowing in the breeze in this fine portrait of a country girl adds an elegance to an otherwise rustic scene. She reminds us of one of Austen’s Dashwood sisters, but she is perhaps not quite so impoverished!
A fine and portly Georgian gentleman, this portrait would look smart in any sitting room, humble or grand, the gilt frame glimmering by candlelight.
Neoclassicism was the dominating movement that arose during the 18th century, having huge influence over the prevailing styles of art and architecture at the time. The maiden in this engraving is likely a mythological figure - if you know who then let us know!
Charles Knight (1743-1826) - Early 19th Century Engraving, Maiden in the Woods
This loose study of a horse with groom captures the graceful equine movements with a contemporary edge.
Manner of Alfred Munnings (1878-1959) - Contemporary Oil, Horse with Groom
Many country houses adopted defensive architecture long after it was required, like this crenellated house in oil, viewed from a boating lake.
The Staircase Hall at Faringdon House via Instagram
This roadside view of a Georgian country home has a casual elegance about it.
The immaculate and orderly country estates depicted by Johannes Kip in his Britannia Illustrata have an immensely satisfying visual quality to them, as well as important historical value.
Johannes 'Jan' Kip (c.1652-1722) - 1712 Engraving, Maugersbury