Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 6).djvu/8
look of pride and exultation that their services are being thus acknowledged by the Queen for whom they had fought. And on Her Majesty's face is an unmistakable look of sympathy with suffering, mingled with pride in the sufferers' achievements.
In the background are stands crowded with onlookers, while on the top of all the buildings around people swarm like bees. Over all hangs a London haze, through which the sunlight is flashing and gleaming on arms and accoutrements.
There are three others by the same artist: "A Review of Troops on Woolwich Common before the King of Sardinia," "A Naval Review at Spithead," and one depicting an event during the visit of Her Majesty to the Emperor Napoleon, namely: "The Review of French Troops on the Champs de Mars." Then there are portraits of Victor Emmanuel II.; Prince Victor of Hohenlohe; Prince Frederick William of Prussia; Louis Duke of Oporto; and Philip Count of Flanders; also a fine painting showing the investiture of Napoleon with the Garter, in the Throne Room of this Palace.
From here we enter the "Ladies' Breakfast Room"; the walls are concealed with metal trellis panels, lined with silk, leaving little doubt but that it was originally intended for a small library. The furniture of this room is plain and solid, use rather than ornament being evident. The marble chimney-piece shows a fine ormolu frieze edging it, a specimen of egg-and-tongue moulding. Near the window stands what may be either an ancient marble font or a vessel to contain flowers; it is supported by a marble pedestal of red granite, with white base and cap; the whole being of such solidity that it is too ponderous a task to move it, so the carpet is nailed round.
Just now (although not its permanent resting-place) there is to be seen here the celebrated family picture after Winterhalter, portraying Her Majesty, the Prince Consort, and their five eldest children. It is a beautiful painting of an ideal family group, the likeness to each being especially good.
The "'55" room.
From a Photo. by H. W. King.
The "Household Dining Room" is the next one we enter, a fine capacious apartment, not much used for dinners now; indeed, I think not at all since Jubilee year. On Drawing Room days it is the cloak-room for the Corps Diplomatique. It is supported with silicon marble columns of the Ionic order, the walls being covered with flock paper. The curtains are rich crimson silk with gold borders, the floor having a carpet of Turkish design. The furniture is the ordinary leather-covered peculiar to dining-rooms; the sideboards being very massive—of Spanish mahogany and gold decorative work. On the mantel is one of Vulliamy's clocks in tortoise-shell and bronze, and on either side some ormolu candelabra. There is a fine collection of busts, some standing in recesses enriched. with Spanish mahogany and gold bolection moulding. Amongst these busts may be noted William IV., the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of York, and one—a Chantrey—of George IV., which was to have been presented to his brother the Duke of York, but was given to Sir Herbert Taylor.