Ham House from the South , inset painting in the White Closet, c.1675-79 (oil on...

The south front of the house is seen from the clearing in the Wilderness with the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale in the centre of the picture. Further figures and dogs, statuary, seats and plants in containers are depicted on either side of the clearing. Classical statues were normally painted with white lead paint to look like marble but eight shown in the painting still apparently have their lead surfaces exposed. From left of centre, a version of the Giambologna Mercury; right, Venus de Medici; two further lead figures - Worthies; extreme right, a Shepherd, adapted from a classical pose. This shows the formal garden lay-out very clearly.The painting was set into the chimneypiece in the White Closet. The Dysart Collection. Owned by the Tollemache family. Charles II on throne;