Page 47 - link magazine

See us on the net @ www.swindonlink.com The Link Magazine. November 1998
47
Oliver St John returns to Lydiard House
Last year Lydiard House was one of just six institutions nationally to be awarded a prestigious conservation award by the fine art greetings
card publishers Woodmansternes, writes Sarah Finch-Crisp, keeper of Lydiard House.
The award, to conserve a re- efactor. Sadly this 17th century smoke and fumes of the open fires, served and returned to the draw-
cently returned portrait of Oliver window is itself candles and oil ing room at Lydiard Oliver's por-
St John 1st Viscount Grandison, now awaiting re- lamps in trait can be seen for its true worth.
enabled us to send the dirty and pair after recent Lydiard House. It is a highly accomplished and life
discoloured picture to expert con- mindless attacks Earlier attempts like portrait by the well known
servators for cleaning and repair. by vandals. to restore the pic- 17th century painter, Cornelius
Oliver, who died in 1630, was a Before conser- ture this century Jansens.
pivotal member of the St Johns vation the por- created more Looking carefully at it you can
family. The wealth and lands trait of Oliver problems for see that the sitter is pictured liter-
which he bequeathed to his was very dark conservator ally warts and all. Together with
nephew Sir John St John ensured with the armour Seonaid Wood the many other portraits in the
the family's status and tenure of an olive green by obscuring the house, Oliver's picture which is
Lydiard for successive generations. colour, the result original paint the only one we have of him, pro-
The east window in St Mary's of dirt and discol- work with stub- vides the visible human link be-
church next to the house was com- oured varnish born fillings and tween the history of the house and
missioned by Sir John in memory caused by years overpainting. the people who owned it for over
and gratitude to his uncle and ben- of absorbing the Now con- 500 years.

Treasure forever a new partnership opportunity at Lydiard Park
In October we launched Treasure rooms but the rising cost of conser- together with vivid illustrations.
Forever, our own Lydiard award vation and display services means In order to show this famous book
scheme, writes Sarah Finch-Crisp, that some fascinating objects re- to our visitors we need to raise
pictured right holding The main hidden from view. £1,000 for a special display cabinet
Grandison Book. The Grandison Book is a rare under the portrait of Oliver (above).
Business community and inter- 17th century manuscript which Since Lydiard House opened to
ested societies are being invited to was compiled by Richard St George the public in 1955 tracing and re-
be part of Lydiard House by sup- Clarenceux, King of arms to King turning the original furnishings
porting projects which give greater Charles 1, and presented to Oliver and pictures has been an ongoing
public access and enjoyment of the Viscount Grandison. The beauti- commitment by the council. Treas-
house and its collections. fully bound volume contains ge- ure Forever gives the community
At Lydiard we are fortunate that nealogical tables based on those at large the opportunity to assist in
the majority of the collections are displayed on the triptych in St this fascinating project. To find
on permanent display in the state Mary's Church next to the house, out more, call into the house soon.

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