THE STORMING OF
BUDA(PEST) 1686
by Charles Léopold Nicolas Sixte - Duke of Lorraine, one of the most successful military commanders in European history.
PLUS THE LIFE-SIZE IVORY EAGLE
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3149945780622106744/6873241512882600280
“A CAVALRY BATTLE SCENE”
(After 143 years under Turkish domination the 74 day Siege of Buda(pest) ended on 2 September 1686.)
BY 17th CENTURY FLEMISH ARTIST, PAUWELS CASTEELS
… the 1686 battle at Buda (Budapest) provided 26 year-old
British adventurer
Captain Robert Byerley with a captured fine stallion which became
known as
the Byerley Turk, one of the three foundation stallions of all
thoroughbreds
in the world to the present day.
Through his great, great grandson Herod, the Byerley
Turk produced Diomed,
first winner of the Epsom Derby on 4 May 1780.
Diomed was later exported to the U.S. state of Virginia,
where he became one of the “foundation sires of the American turf”.
Diomed died at the age of thirty-one in 1808.
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THE STORMING OF BUDA(PEST) SEPTEMBER 1686.
Until removed the painting was originally displayed half-way up the principal staircase off the Great Hall at Kinloch Castle.
“A CAVALRY BATTLE SCENE”
THE STORMING OF BUDA(PEST) 1686
THE STORMING OF BUDA(PEST) 1686
by the 17th century Flemish
artist, Pauwels Casteels.
Born in the late 1600’s Pauwels was the son of Pieter
Casteels
and Elizabeth Bosschaert. Little appears to be known of his life,
but
we do know he initially trained under his father and is recorded
as being a
member of the Belgian Guild of St. Luke, Antwerp, Europe’s
foremost school for
painters and artists at the time and most likely where he developed his great
skill in depicting panoramic battle scenes, the chaos of
which he captures in great
detail, particularly his foreground figures
astride their magnificent
steads amidst the frenzy of battle.
 |
| The open weave canvas is severely exposed along the lower edge. |
The Kinloch Castle painting is a fine example of Casteels’
work as forces
of the Holy League storm the hilltop town and castle of Buda,
(Budapest),
led by Charles Léopold Nicolas Sixte - Duke of Lorraine,
one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history.
Lorraine’s attempt in the spring of 1684 with a force of
38,000 to free Buda
from Turkish rule failed, but on 21 June 1686 he led a
second siege,
a ferocious assault “so that nothing could be heard but the roar
of bombs and
cannon (and) nothing seen but fire and smoke.”
The foreground of Casteels’ painting is full of action as
cavalry, artillery
and infantry of the Holy League, a 74,000 strong alliance
comprising forces
of the Holy Roman Empire, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth,
the Venetian Republic, the Tsardom of Russia and mercenaries and adventurers
from numerous countries including Britain, storm Buda and its hilltop castle.
Despite having to cross the river Danube the city walls were breached and
“all means
were extended” to make the city surrender without further bloodshed. This
being “ineffectual” at 6 a.m. on 2 September 1686, by sheer force
of numbers after a 74 day siege, Lorraine’s forces stormed the fortified city
and sacked it. “Enraged against the Turks for their obstinate resistance”
a
merciless slaughter of all Mahometans ensued until the Duke of Lorraine
put an
end to the killing.
Thus ended
Buda’s 143 years under Turkish domination.
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THE SIEGE OF JUNE 1686 COMMENCES:
It was customary for the victors to
seize “prizes” and the 1686 battle at Buda provided 26 year-old British
adventurer, Captain Robert Byerley,
with a fine stallion which became known as
the Byerley Turk,
one of the three foundation stallions of all thoroughbreds in
the world to the present day, the others being the Darley Arabian and the
Godolphin Arabian.
Through
his great, great grandson Herod, the Byerley Turk produced Diomed,
first winner
of the Epsom Derby held on 4 May 1780.
Diomed was later exported and became one of
the foundation sires
of the American turf.
+
ART CONSERVATOR’S
APPRAISAL OF THE PAINTING IN 1996:signed thirty
inches in along the
bottom edge.
As one of twenty-five easel paintings
its condition was professionally appraised
in March 1996 and described as
“poor, with the paint layer being unstable over a
wide area.”
Severe woodworm infestation was found along the lower edge
and into the canvas
frame, the glue lining was weak and brittle
and the open weave canvas exposed along
the lower edge,
cockling had developed most noticeably at the lower left
and right
corners.” The back of the painting was examined and found to be
“extremely dirty
with large piles of woodworm dust.”
A suggestion by
the author to fund restoration was rejected ...
References:
Field of Mars – London 1801
Kinloch Castle Library
The Saturday Review – Vol. LXII –
1886
George W. Randall Archive
WHERE IS THIS ₤60,000* + PAINTING NOW?
* Official valuation in 1996.
** * * **
LIFE-SIZE IVORY EAGLE
Original research and photography © George W. Randall.
 |
In 1957, shortly after acquisition, Nature Conservancy requested a
staff member from the National Museum of Scotland to come across to
Kinloch Castle to evaluate the contents.
Their conclusion recommended the removal of a number
of the more valuable / vulnerable pieces, amongst which the
Ivory Eagle is one of only two subsequently ever put on public display,
the other being a 56 inch high Japanese crafted bronze of a jungle cock
standing on a tree stump covered with prunus blossoms and buds.
The body, plumage and beak of the eagle are executed entirely in ivory,
the head and a large part of the neck carved from a solid piece.
Outstretched the neck is thrust forward and gazes to the left.
The plumage is carved with each feather clearly defined,
the head and a large part of the neck carved from a solid piece.
Outstretched the neck is thrust forward and gazes to the left.
The plumage is carved with each feather clearly defined,
some of the smaller feathers
being in groups of two or three, but the larger feathers are worked individually each being fixed to the hollow body. The left wing is stretched wide,
being in groups of two or three, but the larger feathers are worked individually each being fixed to the hollow body. The left wing is stretched wide,
the right being partially folded and raised; the fourteen tail feathers are spread open. The claws comprise dark wood and the black eyes glass.
Two toes of each foot, the right being longer than the left, are made rom a
single piece of ivory with the two lateral toes jointed on.
single piece of ivory with the two lateral toes jointed on.
The eight talons are detachable each fitting into a numbered socket.
In the base of each foot projecting
metal rods secured the eagle to its three foot high hardwood tree trunk
metal rods secured the eagle to its three foot high hardwood tree trunk
base giving an eye ball to eye ball experience.
Originally the eagle stood in the Great Hall at Kinloch Castle.
(Haliaeetus pelagicus) that lives in coastal areas of Korea, Japan,
and Russia’s Far East, is life size being, 52 inches from tip of beak to tip of tail, height 30 inches, and width of its partially outstretched wings 53 inches.
in 1958 the base was left behind.
I was informed by a long time Rum resident and former
employee of the Bulloughs' that the base was carved from the trunk of
bog oak unearthed during construction of the castle.
bog oak unearthed during construction of the castle.
In 2011 I questioned the leaving of the base at the Castle with the National Museum’s Senior Curator (Japan), thereby dividing an historically valuable artifact, her reply stated:
“The Museum decided not to acquire the base in 1958
as it was not original to the piece.
as it was not original to the piece.
In such a case I would not consider it to be “dividing an artifact” …
as the base could not be considered an integral part of the work, …
also (there was) a very significant problem of woodworm.”
as the base could not be considered an integral part of the work, …
also (there was) a very significant problem of woodworm.”
But the base was an integral part of the work as owned by Sir George Bullough and later displayed in his
Highland home.
Prior to the National Museum's refurbishment, the eagle was displayed
on a six foot high plinth in the Ivy Wu Gallery for Chinese, Japanese and Korean Art.
on a six foot high plinth in the Ivy Wu Gallery for Chinese, Japanese and Korean Art.
Correctly displayed on its base it would be eye ball to eye ball with the viewer.
 |
| Photographed in 2012 by George W. Randall. Woodworm infestation is now rampant. It was never treated.  |
The attached Royal Museum description reads:
“Eagle of carved ivory, originally one of a pair, rumoured to have been given to the Japanese Emperor by an Indian Prince.
It was, however, made in Japan and given*
to the Museum in 1958 from the collections at Kinloch Castle
on the island of Rum. 19th century.”
(* REALITY OF ACQUISITION BY THE ROYAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND:
Shortly after acquisition in 1957 Nature Conservancy requested a
staff member from the National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh,
to come across to Kinloch Castle to evaluate the contents.
They recommended removal of a number
of the more valuable / vulnerable pieces, amongst which the
Ivory Eagle is one of only two subsequently ever put on public display,
the other being a 56 inch high Japanese crafted bronze of a jungle cock
standing on a tree stump covered with prunus blossoms and buds.)
(* REALITY OF ORIGIN BY GEORGE BULLOUGH:
The Ivory Eagle was in fact exhibited at the
Fourth National Industrial Exhibition
held at Okazaki Park, Kyoto, Japan, from the 1st April to 31st July, 1895,
at the end of which items were sold by auction.
held at Okazaki Park, Kyoto, Japan, from the 1st April to 31st July, 1895,
at the end of which items were sold by auction.
George Bullough was in Kyoto at the time
as part of his three-year long Grand World Tour, 1892-1895;
he later recalled in a published interview how he outbid the Emperor’s representative and obtained “the gem of the exhibition.”)
INTRODUCTORY ARTICLE - LINK ADDRESS:
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3149945780622106744/4016242419873616344
The Kyoto industrial exhibition of 1895 was held in celebration
of the eleven hundredth anniversary of the city's existence.
The Ivory Eagle, "The Gem of the Exhibition", was later bought
by George Bullough and today languishes, apparently unrecognised,
in the Royal Museum, Edinburgh, Scotland.
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Dedicated blog post on Ivory Eagle:
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3149945780622106744/6873241512882600280
** * * **
SOME BACKGROUND TO THE ACQUISITION OF THE
ISLAND OF RUM
ON 28 FEBRUARY 1957
(what would have been Sir George Bullough’s 87th birthday.)
The purchase
of the 26,400 acre Isle of Rum by the
Conservative
Government in 1957 for £23,000 included Kinloch Castle.
The Minute of
Sale Agreement states:
“The Nature Conservancy agreed that it would unless
prevented
from doing so by circumstances over which it had no control use
the
said Island for the purpose of a nature reserve in perpetuity
and maintain Kinloch Castle
... so far as may be practical
to do so in the circumstances and that ...
to do so in the circumstances and that ...
Dame
Monica Lilly Bullough made a gift ... to the said
Nature Conservancy as a
Memorial to her late husband
the said Sir George Bullough, Baronet,
of the
whole furniture, carpets, curtains and pictures ... …”
The signed Minute continued: “The said
Nature Conservancy
confirm their acceptance of the said Gift to them which
shall
be known as “The Sir George Bullough Memorial.”
 |
| Lack of timely maintenance has resulted in much internal damage as in this bedroom in the Manager's Quarters. |
The castle is built of red sandstone from the island of Arran,
a
strata layer technically described as having
“limited resistance to salt
damage” and consequently unsuitable
for structures close by the sea. But it is
by the sea, on a raised beach
only yards above and from the island’s only sea
loch, Loch Scresort.
Take into account the natural porosity of sandstone,
the deteriorating
exterior pointing of the building, aged roof slates, gutters
lined with
degrading lead, a very high rainfall, the proximity of trees,
(their
leaves blocking rhones and fall pipes due to inadequate maintenance),
poor roof
design including a deep valley gutter dividing the south wing,
it was
inevitable water would ingress the structure and eventually the very building.
In recent years major funding has been obtained and many
hundreds of
thousands of pounds spent on making the roof watertight
for which S.N.H. are to
be commended.
However there remains much still to do!
Courtyard wall of Ballroom and Butler's Pantry (left) exhibit degree of damp exacerbated
by blocked and overflowing gutters and down pipes.
It was against this wall in the ballroom the Cavalry Battle Scene
was photographed in 2012.
Today the island
is under the care of Scottish Natural Heritage, (S.N.H.), successors to Nature
conservancy, an agency funded by the Scottish Government in Edinburgh through its Grant-in-Aid (GiA),
with a 2014/15
budget of £53 million.
Regrettably
S.N.H. and its predecessor have never been specifically funded
for the care /
maintenance of Kinloch Castle built 1897-1900
as a late Victorian
hunting lodge
for twenty-seven year old George Bullough, later Sir George, Bt.,
and included in the purchase of the island for
the Nation
fully furnished
in all its pre-1914 elegance.
However, it must
be borne in mind, despite all these apparent shortcomings and failures, had circumstances been different the castle’s
contents could well have been removed and dispersed
years ago, the building demolished and the unique Edwardian treasure house we
see today lost forever.
But Kinloch
Castle complete with contents is still there, all is not lost … yet!
It requires the
iron will of public awareness
and the inevitable funds
 |
| The view from the Tower highlights the poor roof design. |
Although visitors can no
longer stay in the Castle,
the forty bed hostel closed and
the kitchen facilities removed
by Scottish Natural Heritage in 2012 no doubt to make re-starting catering
much more expensive ... ... ...
The Rum
Community Trust, (made-up of resident islanders),
have built new
visitor accommodation.
Bed and breakfast is
available in some homes.
A campsite by the foreshore offers
not only a magnificent view but essential amenities;
the island also has a well provisioned licensed store with post office.
the island also has a well provisioned licensed store with post office.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Isle of Rum Community Trust
Farmhouse Bothy, Isle of Rum,
Inverness-shire PH43 4RR, United Kingdom
Telephone outside U.K. +44 1687 462 404
in U.K. 01687 462 404
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DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN
REVIEWED BY THE AUTHOR 7 JUNE 2025.
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Chapeau. Thanks for the wonderful description. Regards, Thijs
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