Burghley

Visiting Burghley - The State Rooms - The Heaven Room and the Hell Staircase

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Visiting Burghley

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The Heaven Room
The Heaven Room

"Gods and Goddesses disporting themselves as Gods and Goddesses are wont to do..."

This is how the masterpiece by Antonio Verrio - The Heaven Room - is described in a 19th century guide book. As you look around this extraordinary room you feel it transports you into another world. Although a painting the flat surfaces of the walls are transformed into three dimensions, filled with the illusion of movement.

You then descend into Hell. Verrio’s last commission at Burghley was to paint the ceiling over the lofty staircase. The mouth of Hell is depicted as an enormous gaping mouth of a cat with souls of torment writhing within. Death the Grim Reaper, plies his sickle amongst the unfortunates.