horses. Another carriage is seen on the right proceeding towards Chelsea through a lane lined with high trees. On the same side of the picture is a village fair, with a number of figures, among which may be recognized the fire-eater, seen in Hogarth's 'Southwark Fair.' On the left a man strongly resembling Colonel Charteris, is conducting a young lady attended by two maids, near whom is the puzzling inscription: KEE PONT HISS IDE [keep on this side]. The distance is a perspective view of a long row of trees with houses on each side, to the present day called Ranelagh Grove."
Richard Jones, first Earl of Ranelagh, built the house at Chelsea known by his name in 1689-90, on land granted by lease from the Crown. He had here a famous garden. The property was sold in 1733, and soon afterwards it became a place of entertainment.
Has been ascribed to Hogarth; perhaps by F. Hayman (1708-1776).
Lent by Mary, Countess of Ilchester.
105 A WEDDING FESTIVAL, BILLINGSGATE MARKET.
Oil picture. 29 by 23-1/2 in.
This painting represents a bit of old Billingsgate. In the distance are houses on the Surrey side of the river. The wedding party are being entertained by music, their costume belongs to the last quarter of the eighteenth century. Above is a sign of a woman's head. Billingsgate was rebuilt in 1850, and again rebuilt and enlarged 1874-77.
Lent by the Fishmongers' Company.
106 THE ROTUNDA, RANELAGH.
Oil picture. 66 by 35 in.
In 1741 the Rotunda was built on the Ranelagh estate, being first opened with a public breakfast 5 April 1742. It soon became a most fashionable place of public resort, visited too by the leading literary men, until the early part of the nineteenth century. Allusions to it would fill a volume. On 30 September 1805 an order was made for taking down Ranelagh House and the Rotunda, and the garden, together with the sites of these buildings, was not long afterwards added to the Royal Hospital grounds. Part of the Hospital may be seen on spectator's right; on the left is a glimpse of the river.
By Hayman and Hogarth.
Lent by the Earl of Ilchester.
