Castletown House

Pastel Room

The Pastel Room or the Grey Room was originally an ante room to the adjoining Long Gallery. It was used as a school room in the nineteenth century when children became a feature of Castletown life for the first time. It is known as the Pastel Room today because of the fine collection of pastel portraits. These portraits include a splendid pastel of Charles Lennox 2nd Duke of Richmond, Louisa’s father by the fashionable Venetian artist Rosalba Carriera, painted while he was on his grand tour. The smaller pastels surrounding the fireplace include some by the leading Irish pastel artist of the eighteenth century, Hugh Douglas Hamilton. These include a pair of portraits of Tom and Louisa Conolly Amongst the other figures pictured are Charles James Fox and the Staples sisters, including Louisa Staples, whose son Edward Pakenham inherited Castletown upon Lady Louisa’ s death in 1821.

Paintings

Earl of March later Duke of Richmond, pastel portrait of Lady Louisa’s father by Rosaslba Carriera (1675-1757), painted while on grand tour in Italy.

Countess of March later Duchess of Richmond, pastel portrait of Lady Louisa’s mother attributed to the circle of George Knapton (1698-1778)

Louisa aged four, attributed to circle of George Knapton.

Thomas and Louisa Conolly, Charles James Fox, Hussey Burgh, Staples sisters, oval pastel portraits by Hugh Douglas Hamilton, (1739-1808).

Furniture

George II Irish walnut side table with moulded Kilkenny marble top.