Chatham Vase
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The Chatham Vase is a stone sculpture by John Bacon[1] commissioned as a memorial to William Pitt the Elder by his wife, Hester, Countess of Chatham. It was originally erected at their house in Burton Pynsent in 1781. It was subsequently moved to Stowe House but sold in 1848, then purchased in 1857 by a member of the family and installed at Revesby Abbey.[2] It was moved to the grounds of Chevening House in 1934, where it currently resides.[1] It is currently grade II listed.[1]
Pedestal inscription
[edit]The inscription on the pedestal reads:
- Sacred to pure affection
- This simple urn
- Stands a witness of unceasing grief for him who
- Excelling in whatever is so admirable
- and adding to the exercise of the sublimest virtues
- The sweet charm of refined sentiment and polished wit
- By gay social commerce
- Rendered beyond comparison happy
- The course of domestic life
- and bestowed a felicity inexpressible on her
- Whose faithful love was blessed in a pure return
- That raised her above every other joy but the parental one
- and that still shared with him
- His generous country with public monuments has eternised his fame
- This humble tribute is but to soothe the sorrowing breast of private woe[2]