Holland house [Footnote:  From “Homes and Haunts of the Most Eminent British Poets.”]

BY WILLIAM HOWITT

Of Holland House, the last residence of Addison, it would require a long article to give a fitting idea.  This fine old mansion is full of historic associations.  It takes its name from Henry Rich, earl of Holland, whose portrait is in Bilton.  It was built by his father-in-law, Sir Walter Cope, in 1607, and affords a very good specimen of the architecture of that period.  The general form is that of a half H. The projection in the center, forming:  at once porch and tower, and the two wings supported on pillars, give great decision of effect to it.  The stone quoins worked with a sort of arabesque figure, remind one of the style of some portions of Heidelberg Castle, which is what is called on the Continent roccoco.  Here it is deemed Elizabethan; but the plain buildings attached on each side to the main body of the house, with their shingled and steep-roofed towers, have a very picturesque and Bohemian look.  Altogether, it is a charming old pile, and the interior corresponds beautifully with the exterior.  There is a fine entrance-hall, a library behind it, and another library extending the whole length of one of the wings and the house upstairs, one hundred and five feet in length.  The drawing-room over the entrance-hall, called the Gilt Room, extends from front to back of the house, and commands views of the gardens both way; those to the back are very beautiful.

In the house are, of course, many interesting and valuable works of art; a great portion of them memorials of the distinguished men who have been accustomed to resort thither.  In one room is a portrait of Charles James Fox, as a child, in a light blue dress, and with a close, reddish, woolen cap on his head, under which show lace edges.  The artist is unknown, but is supposed to be French.  The countenance is full of life and intelligence, and the “child” in it is, most remarkably, “the father of the man.”  The likeness is wonderful.  You can imagine how, by time and circumstance, that child’s countenance expanded into what it became in maturity.  There is also a portrait of Addison, which belonged to his daughter.  It represents him as much younger than any other that I have seen.  In the Gilt Room are marble busts of George IV. and William IV.  On the staircase is a bust of Lord Holland, father of the second earl and of Charles Fox, by Nollekens.  This bust, which is massy, and full of power and expression, is said to have brought Nollekens into his great repute.  The likeness to that of Charles Fox is very striking.  By the same artist there are also the busts of Charles Fox, the late Lord Holland, and the present earl.  That of Frere, by Chantry, is very spirited.  There are also, here, portraits of Lord Lansdowne, Lord John Russell, and family portraits.  There is also a large and very curious painting of a fair, by Callot, and an Italian print of it.