Interior, 1st. floor, main staircase, view from South East. Digital image of D 41656/cn

Description Interior, 1st. floor, main staircase, view from South East. Digital image of D 41656/cn

Date 16/11/1998

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number SC 764692

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of D 41656 CN

Scope and Content Staircase Gallery, Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries & Galloway This oak open-well staircase gallery, with a balustrade of simple twisted wooden balusters, was completed in 1697. The walls are lined to half-height with oak panelling, and adorned with giltwood candle scones in the style of the 18th-century furniture designer, Thomas Chippendale. The elaborate central silver chandelier dates from c.1670, and has 16 candle holders shaped as dolphins or mermaids. The full-length portraits at gallery-level are mostly by the artist, Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), and include King William (left) and his wife, Queen Mary. On the far right is a portrait of Queen Anne which was presented to James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry, in recognition of his services to the Crown. The gallery led to the great state apartments on the first floor which were used on formal occasions for visiting royalty. It was completed for James Douglas, the 2nd Duke, who succeeded his father, the 1st Duke, in 1695. James was a firm supporter of King William and Queen Mary, and became Secretary of State under Queen Anne when she succeeded to the throne in 1702. He was nicknamed the 'Union' Duke because of his important rôle in the Treaty of Union between Scotland and England in 1707, and, as a token of Queen Anne's approval, was created Marquess of Beverley and Duke of Dover. Drumlanrig Castle, one of the great Renaissance courtyard houses of Scottish domestic architecture, was built between 1679 and 1690 for William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry, on the site of a late 14th-century Douglas stronghold. The castle passed to the Dukes of Buccleuch in 1810, and is now the home of the 9th Duke (11th Duke of Queensberry). It houses many great family treasures and important works of art, including magnificent carvings and a fine collection of paintings. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/764692

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap