A voyage into the art of darkness

Twelve of the finest Old Master drawings from one of the world’s greatest art collections, have gone on display at Chatsworth House.

Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt and Brueghel are part of World Class: Masterpieces from the Devonshire Collection. Taken from what is considered to be the greatest historic family collection after the Royal Collection at Windsor due to its scope and quality, the 12 drawings are some of the most historically important works of art surviving today.

The fact that visitors are able to see the drawings for the first time in over a century at the stately home is due to good timing. The delicate nature of drawings means that daylight is incredibly damaging and they can only be shown in a darkened conditions and then, for only a few months at a time.

Charles Noble, Chatsworth House curator (collections and documentation), said: “The house is currently undergoing a major refurbishment and in particular this one area, which is in quite a dark part of the house, with little natural daylight became available to use for an exhibition.

“It seemed like a good time to be able to bring these works out of the vault.”

The vault is an appropriate place for the work to have been kept – these 12 drawings really are treasures.

Some are early sketches, others drawings that are close to the finished product. All 12 are exceptional pieces of work that provide a rare insight into some of history’s truly greatest artists.

The drawings were previously kept in albums at Devonshire House in London until the 19th century when the 6th Duke of Devonshire brought many of the family’s finest works of art to Chatsworth.

He removed several hundred from their albums to frame them but the display was dismantled in 1906 to prevent deterioration caused by light and environmental conditions and the drawings were put into storage.

The collection began with the acquisition in the 1680s of 14 landscapes by Guercino by the 1st Duke of Devonshire.

However, it was the 2nd Duke who became the principal collector and most of the drawings have been in the family since the 1720s.

Mr Noble said: “The title of the show is World Class and it couldn’t really be more appropriate. “They really are examples of top notch work by some of the greatest artists that have ever lived.”

The works have been given an appropriately lavish setting in which to be viewed.

Visitors will walk through one of the most lavish, important rooms in the House – the first Duke’s State Apartment – to find themselves in a jewel-like collector’s cabinet with the Old Master Drawings on display at eye-level.

The low level lighting, and wall fabric selected by the Duchess with interior designer David Mlinaric are hung with upper tiers of gilt-framed botanical drawings dating from the 1500s.

To complement the drawings, Rembrandt’s King Uzziah hangs above a Florentine pietra dura cabinet.

A French Boulle marquetry cabinet housing ivories and Limoges enamels, which have been specially conserved, completes the display.

Mr Noble added: “As an expert it is wonderful to get your hands on such important and impressive pieces, but what is really wonderful is to get to share work like this with the public. It is such a rare opportunity that I think people will be amazed by what they see.”

The Old Master Drawings will start a rolling exhibition drawn from more than 3000 works with each displayed for a limited time.