You probably know it as Mr. Darcy's house.
I prefer to remember it as the home of Georgiana Cavendish,
Duchess of Devonshire, The Duchess.
Surreal, to see places from movies you've watched over and over.
Entering the Grand Hall.
Gorgeous ceilings.
And balconies. You know you've made it when you have balconies inside your house. I can just picture Georgiana making appearances from here at grand eighteenth-century masquerade balls.
Well I went searching for an answer.
Up the stairs and the down the hall.
The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire still live here.
So it's one of those lovely places where you just meander.
No object labels, no interpretation.
Just figure it out as you go along.
And that's nice, sometimes.
La chapelle.
Chapel chairs.
Courtyard from a window, pouring rain.
Green corridors and red carpets.
In this corridor you will find portraits of Georgiana
and her family {that's her there}.
Georgiana by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Lady Bess Foster above her. If you've seen the film,
you will know that Bess was Georgiana's best friend
who lived with them and began an affair with the Duke,
who favoured her over Georgiana. She later married him.
And there all three of them are. He was, by all accounts,
Not A Very Nice Man.
He was pretty much the only person in the country
who didn't love his wife, who was a fashion icon in
late eighteenth-century Britain. But that's okay,
she didn't need him, she had an affair (and
illegitimate child) with Charles Grey -- as in Earl
Grey, as in the dude they named a tea after.
illegitimate child) with Charles Grey -- as in Earl
Grey, as in the dude they named a tea after.
A study of Georgiana and her daughter,
by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
This is the most bizarre painting of all.
Georgiana as Cynthia from Spenser's "Faerie Queene,"
by Maria Hadfield Cosway, 1781-82.
Wallpaper I liked.
A cabinet of golden curiosities.
This suite of chinoiserie rooms were my fave.
Ugh love.
A leopardskin rug, vanity, and E chair. I NEED THIS ALL.
Next room.
THIS BED !
Just perfection.
And a niche bed !
This is the present Duke's mother Deborah,
the last of the famous Mitford Sisters.
And into the dark wing.
The Duke actually allows visitors to take flash
photography, but as an art historian I cannot.
It is really terrible for the objects, and I can't bring myself to it.
So these are a bit dark!
Ghostly.
Amazing stag chandelier, want.
Come dine with me.
Red, red, red, red, red now.
"Eighteenth-century bling, it's just the best thing."
~ The Duke of Devonshire
And you end in the famous sculpture gallery.
Like remember in Pride and Prejudice when she visits the house...
And there was a bust of Mr. Darcy in here, LOL.
It is just pure class when it's not a film set though.
Come dine with me.
Red, red, red, red, red now.
"Eighteenth-century bling, it's just the best thing."
~ The Duke of Devonshire
And you end in the famous sculpture gallery.
Like remember in Pride and Prejudice when she visits the house...
And there was a bust of Mr. Darcy in here, LOL.
It is just pure class when it's not a film set though.
Outside.
It was rainy and gross out.
But still beautiful.
Unfortunately we didn't have much garden time.
Because this is how windy and gross it was.
Looking off into the hazy Peak District.
Derbyshire Beauty.
They don't call it the Palace of the Peaks for nothing.
Another day, another bridge.
The best postcard I purchased.
Forget Kate, Georgiana was THE Duchess.
xx
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