The Anatomy of Riches : Sir Robert Paston's Treasure

The Anatomy of Riches tells the story of one British family's long, hard rise from rags to riches--and their rapid reversal of fortune. Focusing on the seventeenth-century life of Sir Robert Paston, an avid collector of natural and manmade rarities who experienced the family's fall from grace, Spike Bucklow paints an engaging portrait of one family's eccentricities of richness at a time of momentous change. Beginning with the travels of Sir Robert's father Sir William, the Paston wealth brought luxuries from across the globe to an idyllic retreat in rural Norfolk. There, the family commissioned Europe's finest craftsmen to enhance their exotic rarities, a trove of objects that included everything from musical instruments to bejeweled ostrich eggs and nautilus shell goblets. The lavish hospitality of the Paston family was renowned throughout England, but the English Civil War and plague tore the country apart, and peace-loving Sir Robert was assailed by what he called a "whirlpool of misadventures." As the dawn of the modern era saw the beginning of the family's loss of fortune, Sir Robert kept faith and worked tirelessly to protect his wife and children. Encouraged by his friend Dr. Thomas Browne, he even found time to pursue his own idiosyncratic interests, employing both an alchemist in search of the Philosophers' Stone and an artist to capture his favorite treasures in an enigmatic still life, The Paston Treasure. Exploring the Paston family's history through their collection and this famed painting, The Anatomy of Riches offers a history of both early modern England and the modern world's birth-pangs. The Anatomy Of Riches Tells The Story Of One Family's Long Rise From Rags To Riches, And Their Rapid Reversal Of Fortune. It Focuses On The Life Of Sir Robert Paston, Who Experienced The Family's Fall From Grace At A Time Of Momentous Change, The Beginning Of The Modern World. The Paston Wealth Had Brought Luxuries From Across The Globe To An Idyllic Retreat In Rural Norfolk. The Family Commissioned Europe's Finest Craftsmen To Enhance Their Rarities, And Their Lavish Hospitality Was Famed Throughout England. But Civil War And Plague Tore The Country Apart, And Peace-loving Sir Robert Was Assailed By What He Called A 'whirlpool Of Misadventures', Although He Kept His Faith And Worked Tirelessly To Protect His Wife And Children. Encouraged By His Friend Dr Thomas Browne, He Even Found Time To Pursue His Interests, Employing Both An Alchemist In Search Of The Philosophers' Stone And An Artist To Capture His Favourite Treasures In An Enigmatic Still-life, The Paston Treasure.--provided By Publisher. One.ancestors -- The Peasants' Revolt -- Norfolk's Insurrection -- Judge William Paston -- The Paston Letters -- John Paston -- John Amend-all -- Sir John Fastolf -- The Wars Of The Roses -- Margaret Paston -- Margery And Richard Calle -- The Tudors -- Clement Paston -- William And Katherine Paston -- Two.growing Up -- Oxnead, Norfolk -- The Court Of Charles I -- Westminster School -- Civil War -- The Cavalier Winter -- Trinity College, Cambridge -- Robert Paston's Gap Year -- The Body Politic -- The Execution Of Charles I -- The Weather -- Oliver Cromwell's Death -- The Coronation Of Charles Ii -- Cromwell's Head -- Three.going Home -- Robert And Rebecca Paston -- The Restoration -- The Moon's St̀range Spottedness' -- Infant Mortality -- Music -- The Plague -- The Fire -- London -- Shot By Highwaymen -- Welcome To Norwich -- Turning The Hourglass -- Collecting Colours -- Preparing Canvas -- Drawing -- Painting -- Four.the Gathering Note Continued: Still-life Paintings, Collections -- Theatrical Curtains -- Parrots -- Pets -- Slaves -- Black Skin -- Cochineal Insects -- Andean Silver -- Spanish Silver -- Blue-and-white Porcelain -- Chinese Silver -- Snail Shells -- Ostrich Eggs -- Herrings -- The Globe -- Polynesian Navigation -- Knowledge Exchange -- Five.red And White Elixirs -- The Book From The Well -- Hermes, Merchants, Thieves And The Crafts -- The Royal Society -- Gunpowder, Saltpetre And Bird Droppings -- Aurum Potabile -- Iron-eating Ostriches -- Making Colours -- The Royal Art -- Secrets -- Corporations -- The Volatile, The Fixed And Salt -- Atalanta Fugiens -- Failure -- Six.the Scattering -- Ciphers -- Customs Farms -- Robert's Childhood Gift -- Hospitality -- Charles Ii's Visit -- Food And Diets -- Melancholy -- Charles Ii's Daughter -- Party Politics -- 1st Earl Of Yarmouth -- William Paston -- Gough's Pews -- James Ii, William And Mary -- Walpole And Catherine The Great Note Continued: Recycling -- Seven.repentance -- Fortuna -- Wonder -- The Patience Of Job -- Shipwrecks -- The Single Eye -- Cezanne -- Thomas Browne -- The Garden Of Cyrus -- Harmony -- Orchards -- Sir Walter Raleigh's Cordial -- Belonging -- Indra's Net -- Sylva -- Atalanta Fleeing -- The Hourglass -- Shells And The Whirlwind. Spike Bucklow. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 235-270) And Index.

The Anatomy of Riches tells the story of one British family's long, hard rise from rags to riches—and their rapid reversal of fortune. Focusing on the seventeenth-century life of Sir Robert Paston, an avid collector of natural and manmade rarities who experienced the family's fall from grace, Spike Bucklow paints an engaging portrait of one family's eccentricities of richness at a time of momentous change.Beginning with the travels of Sir Robert's father Sir William, the Paston wealth brought luxuries from across the globe to an idyllic retreat in rural Norfolk. There, the family commissioned Europe's finest craftsmen to enhance their exotic rarities, a trove of objects that included everything from musical instruments to bejeweled ostrich eggs and nautilus shell goblets. The lavish hospitality of the Paston family was renowned throughout England, but the English Civil War and plague tore the country apart, and peace-loving Sir Robert was assailed by what he called a "whirlpool of misadventures." As the dawn of the modern era saw the beginning of the family's loss of fortune, Sir Robert kept faith and worked tirelessly to protect his wife and children. Encouraged by his friend Dr. Thomas Browne, he even found time to pursue his own idiosyncratic interests, employing both an alchemist in search of the Philosophers' Stone and an artist to capture his favorite treasures in an enigmatic still life, The Paston Treasure. Exploring the Paston family's history through their collection and this famed painting, The Anatomy of Riches offers a history of both early modern England and the modern world's birth-pangs.