Belvoir Castle stands dramatically, on a Leicestershire hilltop, dominating the surrounding countryside. The first castle was built by Robert de Todeni in the late 11th century being left in ruins after the Wars of the Roses when in the ownership of the Ros family. Through marriage it passed to Sir Thomas Manners, the 1st Earl of Rutland, who started to rebuild the castle around 1523 although it was not completed until 1555. On the Earl’s death in 1543 Belvoir was inherited by Henry his eldest son while his younger son Sir John Manners acquired Haddon Hall in Derbyshire through his marriage to Dorothy Vernon. During the Civil War, in 1645, Belvoir was besieged and surrendered to the Roundheads. The castle was demolished in 1649. The architect, John Webb, directed the next rebuild, this time for John, 8th Earl of Rutland, between 1654 and 1668, which included the laying out of the grounds. John, 9th Earl of Rutland was created Marquis of Granby and Duke of Rutland in 1703. In 1780 the 4th Duke procured far-reaching plans for the landscaping and modernization of the mansion involving Capability Brown but died suddenly in 1787 without anything having been undertaken. It was his son, soon after he came of age in 1799, with his young wife lady Elizabeth Howard who resumed the vision of reconstruction employing James Wyatt for the task. New south fronts were completed in 1816 just before a fire destroyed both the north wings in the same year. The next rebuild was completed about 1830.

The view as we see it in this painting shows the south-east and south-west fronts around the time of it being completed in 1816 shortly before the fire. Contrasting with the sturdy masculine feel of the castle a lady is depicted taking a rest within a typical Regency “rustic” summerhouse. Belvoir created much interest at the time provoking a visit from the Prince Regent in 1813 with Turner making a watercolour three years later. The present painting is by a provincial artist who has not only captured the social interest of a group of visitors but the majesty of the new castle designs.