Corsham Court is principally known for its splendid collection of 16th and 17th century Italian and Flemish Old Master paintings and statuary acquired by Sir Paul Methuen in the 18th century.
The Methuen family's wealth came from the prosperous Wiltshire cloth industry of the 17th century.
Sir Paul began his career in politics but resigned in 1730 to concentrate on increasing his art collection, which he kept at his London house.
On his death in 1757, Sir Paul left his paintings to his godson, also Paul Methuen, heir to the family's cloth business.
He had bought Corsham Court 12 years earlier and in 1761 - 64 commissioned 'Capability' Brown to extend the original Elizabethan building to provide room for the art collection. Brown was also engaged to create the magnificent landscape garden.
The core of the Elizabethan house, built in 1582 by Thomas Smyth, can be seen on the south front of the present house.
Its three-gabled hall range in the centre is flanked by projecting wings.
These wings were doubled in width by 'Capability' Brown to house the new gallery and library.
The gallery has survived intact together with its furnishings.
In 1797 Paul Cobb Methuen engaged John Nash to remodel the interior of the Elizabethan hall.
He also added a new range to the garden side in Tudor-Gothic style but this was badly constructed and was removed in 1844 - 49 by the architect Thomas Bellamy. He was employed by the 1st Lord Methuen to make alterations which included the heavy pinnacled staircase tower in the centre of the north front which dominates the house.
Corsham Court was also enlarged in the 19th century to accommodate a second art collection.
This was inherited by the 2nd Lord Metheun in 1849 from his father-in-law, the Rev. John Stanford. He had lived for many years in Florence and the collection was principally of fashionable Italian masters, including several 15th century works, and stone-inlaid furniture.
Today Corsham Court and its collections are still in the hands of the Methuen family.
Corsham Court is approached through the Hall designed by Bellamy and the tour commences in the Picture Gallery. This fine room was begun in 1761 by 'Capability' Brown. He engaged the plasterer Thomas Stocking and the carpenter John Hobcraft to create an elaborate setting for Paul Methuen's paintings.
The furnishings are also lavish with red silk damask wall coverings and chairs and settees by Chippendale. The neo-classical tables and pier glasses were created by the Adam brothers and the marble chimneypiece by Scheemakers. The paintings, many with their original frames, are hung much as they were and are an excellent example of 18th century taste.
The long west wall is dominated by three large works: 'Baptism of Christ' by Guido Reni, 'Wolf and Fox Hunt' by Rubens and 'Betrayal of Christ' by Van Dyck. The north wall has a version of Van Dyck's portrait of Charles I on horseback. Other notable paintings include works by Guercino, Caravaggio, Rosa, Strozzi and Tintoretto.
The adjoining Cabinent Room also has a ceiling by Stocking and was created to display more pictures. Here there are works by Filippo Lippi, Jacopo Bassano, Andrea Della Robbia and Murillo. There are also three 'pietra dura' cabinets from 1650 and three 17th century Italian bronzes.
The State Bedroom, created within the Elizabethan east wing, is the next room. This contains the original mid-18th century bed and has two intricately carved Rococo mirrors dated 1761, said to be by Thomas Johnson. Paintings here include the 'Infant Christ' by Guercino from the Stanford collection.
The Octagon Room was remodelled in the 1840s and is no longer octagonal. Some important paintings here include a portrait of Elizabeth I and works by Jan Breughel, Claude and Teniers. A marble statue of a 'Sleeping Cupid' dated 1494 is attributed to Michelangelo.
The state rooms are joined to the west or private wing by the main corridor, lined with cases of Chinese porcelain.
The Music Room, which dates mainly from the 1840s, has an early piano by Clementi and large 17th century paintings by Francesco Albani.
The Dining Room dates from the same period and has a portrait of Paul Methuen, the builder of the Picture Gallery, by Reynolds. There are also portraits of his three children by Romney.
The magnificent landscape garden spreading out to the north and east of the house was begun by 'Capability' Brown and completed by Humphry Repton.
There are smooth lawns with fine trees and a ha-ha. There are also herbaceous borders, box-edged flower beds, secluded gardens, a rose garden and a lily pond. In the spring thousands of daffodils bloom beneath the many rare and exotic trees that flourish here.
A modern arboretum has been planted at Corsham Court.
To the north of the house is 'Capability' Brown's Rococo-Gothic Bath House. This has a cold bath at ground level and a changing room above. A intriguing passageway leads through the Bath House to a walled garden beyond.
2008:20 Mar-30 Sept:daily except Mon & Fri (open Bank Hols) 14:00-17:30; Oct-19 Mar(closed Dec):weekends only 14:00-16:30. (last entry 30min before close) Groups at other times by appointment.
Tel: 01249 712214 Corsham Court Website
