The Arundel Marbles

“Collecting may be defined as a form of consumption characterized by the selection, the gathering together, and setting aside a group of objects” (Swann 6). Collecting art in the early modern period was a cultural phenomenon in England. “Collecting was a vital social practice during the early modern period because it served as a point of convergence for a wide range of cultural forces” such as social status, rarity of the object, and historical significance (Swann 16). It is imperative to remember that one does not collect art for the sole purpose of admiring it; but rather, in order to assemble a collection based on the rarity of the object in order to prove one’s wealth and status (Class Lecture 7/7).

The Wilton House, an English country
estate located near Salisbury, exhibits all of these qualities. The Wilton House reveals how a room can embody social status, how a collection of rare marbles can provide power and reinforce the wealth and exclusivity of the family. Also the house is constructed in a classical Palladian style, and references the historical influence of Antiquity.
In the early modern period, the aristocracy needed to display their wealth through their everyday life. Ones collection was considered “an exhibition of elite status” and reflected the “traditional material display of ‘magnificence’” (Swann 17). One’ s magnificence is directly related to one’s actions, generosity, extravagant lifestyle, and noble influence. The Wilton House is home to several significant works of art, including pieces from Rembrandt, Reubens, Brueghel, and Van Dyck. If one wanted a collection to be worth something, it was vital for one’s collection to consist of art across Europe, not just England. The most magnificent room in Wilton House is the Double Cube Room. This room was designed by Inigo Jones and exemplifies the family’s magnificence. The walls are painted white, with intricate gold leafed details. The red velvet furniture against the white wall emphasizes the family’s wealth. However, the main focal point of the room is the Van Dyck painting of the family of Charles I and the Earl of Pembroke. The Double Cube room is one of the many extravagant rooms within Wilton House. Possessing a room such as these allowed aristocrats to show off their wealth for everyone to see. Therefore, extravagant rooms provided guests with an instant appreciation for the wealth of the host.

The Wilton House also possesses many rare items.
By “Gathering rarities […] early modern travelers established their own social credentials while simultaneously enhancing the standing of the collectors” (Swann 27). People were mainly intrigued by the rare quality of objects. These objects possess a greater value because they are in limited supply, and are extremely exclusive. The Wilton House is one of the few institutions that possess some of the Arundel marbles, and numerous other sculptures. The Arundel marbles are from classical Rome. These possessions reinforce the idea that some objects are collected based on their rarity, rather than their intrinsic value. This provides the owner with a certain amount of social persuasion and power because people who visit the Wilton House and see the marbles will be provided with a unique experience. The experience cannot be obtained anywhere else, simply because no other place possesses the Wilton House collection. The exclusivity of objects, such as the Arundel marbles, provides the owner with power and influence. When the viewer sees these objects, they become filled with wonder, because there are no other pieces like them. The wonder felt by the audience when seeing the works, “could designate both an object and a viewer’s emotional and intellectual response to an astonishing physical thing” (Swann 25). This explains how the Wilton house has the biggest collection of classical antiquities in
England.

Apart from the Wilton House’s social influence and possession of rare objects, it also shows the viewer how the incorporation of classical vales was important during this time.
This can be seen not only through the Classical Arundel marbles in the house, but also through the Classical Palladian architecture in whish it was constructed. The sheer size of the house reinforces the magnificence of the family; however, the plain, simple, regularity of the exterior emphasizes the classical influence displayed. Even thought hid building does not have columns of a typical Roman temple style construction, I still possessed many classical values. It is the buildings symmetry and plain exterior that are classical elements. The incorporation of these features was crucial during the early modern period, because it referenced both the Renaissance movement occurring throughout Europe, and Classical Rome. This displayed that the owner was worldly and aware of cultural movements, not just the ones in England. When the house was being constructed the Herbert family were considered “new men”, and had to prove themselves and their worth, through their collection and the construction of their house. Having a house of classical architecture indicated the family’s noble taste in the excellence, precision, and beauty of Antiquity. It is important to recognize a house as a part of a collection because it is more than just a building. It contains the insight to the family’s intimate, personal
identity.

Motives for collecting art are very personal. Art can be the focal point of an interior room, or the simple classical exterior of a house; either way, it expresses a great deal about the owner, mainly their social status and wealth. During this time period the “Renaissance humanism influenced the ideology and scope for Aristocratic collections” (Swann 20). The incorporation of the Renaissance, and its values, into a collection displays the worldly awareness of the owner. The Wilton House presents the motives for collecting during the early modern time period. The Double Cube Room reveals that it was important for people to use collections in order to display wealth. The Arundel marbles divulge that the rarity in items displayed the family exclusivity and exquisite taste in collecting. Finally the Classical architecture shows that the Herbert family was culturally aware of the Renaissance movement in Europe and attempted to embrace and incorporate it into their collection.