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Lot Essay
Chandeliers from Italian workshops were installed at Castletown, Co.
Kildare, soon after 1776. Castletown was the first great Palladian
house in Ireland, built between 1719 - 29 by William Connolly, Speaker
of the Irish House of Commons from 1715, and the richest man in
Ireland. The Long Gallery was completely redecorated in the Pompeian
manner in the 1770s by which time the house had passed to Connollys
greatnephew William. His wife, Lady Louisa, Lennox directed much of the work, creating frescoes incorporating arabesques and plaques taken from antique sources and niches in brilliant blues and crimsons, reflected
in huge pier glasses imported from France, and topped with three vast
coloured glass chandeliers specially ordered from Venice (The Knight of Glin, 'Castletown, County Kildare, Homes and Gardens, March 1987,
pp.185 198).
Kildare, soon after 1776. Castletown was the first great Palladian
house in Ireland, built between 1719 - 29 by William Connolly, Speaker
of the Irish House of Commons from 1715, and the richest man in
Ireland. The Long Gallery was completely redecorated in the Pompeian
manner in the 1770s by which time the house had passed to Connollys
greatnephew William. His wife, Lady Louisa, Lennox directed much of the work, creating frescoes incorporating arabesques and plaques taken from antique sources and niches in brilliant blues and crimsons, reflected
in huge pier glasses imported from France, and topped with three vast
coloured glass chandeliers specially ordered from Venice (The Knight of Glin, 'Castletown, County Kildare, Homes and Gardens, March 1987,
pp.185 198).