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The Cowper and Newton Museum
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Virtual Tour: The Parlour
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The Parlour has been redecorated to mirror the colour scheme in Cowper's day. The evidence for the restoration is the small water-colour below. Note the arrangement of prints above the fireplace.
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This small water-colour is on Mrs Unwin's Workbox (below) and shows the arrangement and colour scheme of Parlour in her time (1768 - 1786).
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The water-colour panel can be seen just below white label. There are portraits by Slater of Cowper, Mrs Unwin and Lady Austen on the lid. |
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| The present arrangement of prints above fireplace echoing Cowper's choice of pictures.
A letter from Susanna Powley, daughter of Mary Unwin to Rev. E. Kilvington 14th March 1810 describes the disposition of the pictures during Cowper's time:
In the large upper panels over the fireplace hung (facing each other of course) good old Bunyan and Occam. The crucifixion was above .....And a print of Lord Thurlow below - likewise hanging between the pannels. Two small prints (sea pieces) filled the smaller pannels at the bottom.
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This letter cabinet was designed by 'Johnny' Johnson, Cowper's cousin to divert Cowper in the last years of his life.
Behind the false 'book' spines are pigeon holes for his correspondence. Among the names printed on the spines are William Wilberforce, Lords Carrington, Dartmouth and Thurlow, the Bishops of London, Peterborough and Lincoln.
The cabinet was presented to the museum by Mr. H. Norman in 1943.
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| Beneath the cabinet is the writing desk, sometimes referred to as "the chest of drawers". There is extensive correspondence proving provenence of the desk. In particular a letter signed, witnessed and dated 1870 stating that the desk was bought at Mr Cowper's sale at Olney in 1824. |
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The North east corner of Parlour showing Cowper's antique chair and small gate-legged table. |
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| Small rectangular gate legged table presented by Mr. H. Palmer to the museum in 1914. |
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More accurately known as a Charles II day-bed, Cowper's sofa was made around 1680. The frame is walnut and has a carved design on the head and sides.
It was given to the museum in 1914 by Mr. H. Palmer.
Cowper's Sofa |
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The sofa is celebrated as a subject given to Cowper by Lady Austen for a poem in blank verse which became known as The Task.
I sing the Sofa. I who lately sang Truth, Hope and Charity..... Now seek repose upon a humble theme.
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You are in the Parlour
Click on the hare to continue the guided tour
or use the floorplan to move to another room
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