Private Residences

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Private Residences**

Most of the mansions of the nobility have been converted into public offices, and have been already noticed as such. Leinster House is described in art. *Dublin Society; *for Powerscourt House, see *Stamp Office, *and for Moira House, *Mendicity Association. *There are 91 mansions in Dublin totally deserted by their original proprietors, and no longer known as the *quondam *residences of our nobility, &c.

Charlemont House - the residence of the Earl of Charlemont, is the most magnificent private residence preserved in Dublin. It is situated in Palace-row, opposite the centre of the New Gardens, and is decidedly the best situated mansion in the city. It was built by James, the late Earl, a man as well known in the political world as amongst the schools of arts. [See Hardy’s Life of Charlemont].

This edifice, which is after the design of his lordship, aided by Sir William Chambers, is chaste, classical and elegant. The front, which is of hewn stone, brought from Arklow, consists of a rusticated basement arid two stories : the first floor has five windows adorned with architraves, and surmounted by pediments alternately angular and circular; those of the second story have no pediments. The door-way, which is in the centre, is decorated with Ionic columns supporting an entablature, and at each side are obelisks supporting ornamented lamps; semi-circular curtain walls, enclosing the sweep in front, and continued to the adjacent houses on each side, are ornamented with circular-headed niches, and crowned by a balustrade.

The interior was designed with** equal correctness, and those apartments which are completed exhibit the most refined taste in the arts. The most attractive at present is the library, which is one of the finest rooms in Dublin, and supplied with a valuable collection of books: at one end of this is a chamber containing a statue of the Venus De’ Medici, carved on the spot by Milton; at the other, are apartments containing a cabinet of pictures, and a collection of medals. The library is connected with the house by a long corridor ornamented with statues, particularly a Mercury brought from Italy by his lordship. On one side of this corridor is at smaller library ornamented with vases and urns from Herculaneum, some, of the lava of Vesuvius, and others of burnt Egyptian clay. There are a number of original paintings by the first master’s; for a list of which, see Catalogue of Paintings.

Waterford House**. - The first private edifice of stone, erected on Dublin, was built in 1740 by the Earl of Tyrone in Marlborough-street, after a design of Mr. Cassels, architect of the Bank of Ireland and Leinster House; and is now better known by the denomination of Waterford House, the illustrious family being** **raised to a Marquisate.

The front, which is of granite, consists of three stories; the door-way is ornamented by Doric pillars, supporting an entablature and pediment; and over it, in the principal story, is a large Venetian window. All the other windows in both stories are regular. There is a spacious court-yard in front, with two gates for admission and egress.

The interior, being in the style of those days, is curious and beautiful. The hall is richly unlamented with stucco-work, and has an oak perkenteen floor disposed in diamonds and lozenges. The parlours are spacious, but gloomy, owing to the profusion of mahogany carved work, which is now of so dark a hue, that it throws a gloom and grandeur over the apartments.

The stairs, balusters and hand-rail, and doors, are all of mahogany; and the walls of the staircase are ornamented with stucco-work, in a style superior to any thing of the present day. Busts of different members of the family, resting on consoles, are placed against the walls. This beautiful stucco-work was designed by *Cremillon, *an Italian, who was assisted by the *Francini, *of whose workmanship a very beautiful specimen is to be seen in the chapel of the Lying-in-Hospital.

There is an extensive suite of apartments adorned with a fine collection of the works of the old masters. [See Catalogue of Paintings.] In the small drawing-room is a very curious and beautiful specimen of Mosaic work in a marble pier table, and in the same room is a portrait of Catherine Poer, Countess of Tyrone, by whose marriage with Sir Marcus Beresford the title and property passed into that distinguished family: the portrait represents her as young and beautiful, and is inserted in the ornamental carved work over the chimney-piece. The next apartment is probably one of the most interesting objects of curiosity in Dublin. The ceiling is carved and richly ornamented, and the walls are hung in tapestry, designed by the younger Teniers, and executed in Holland. This is the best specimen of the art of tapestry-weaving to be seen in Ireland. There are several other splendid apartments in the rear of the building, commanding a view of an extensive and well-planted lawn.

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