Woburn Abbey

The Yellow Drawing Room

During the Royal visit in 1841 this room was used by Prince Albert as his sitting-room, he is also associated with the Racing Room. Before that it was the French Bedroom. The room was redesigned for the 4th Duke in the latter part of the 1760s after his return from Paris where he had served as English Ambassador. Much of the French furniture you will see would have been acquired by him during his stay in Paris. The commode on the left-hand side is attributed to Antoine Gaudreau (c. 1680-1751) and has recently been completely restored at the Victoria and Albert Museum. This took three years. The commode opposite was made in London by Pierre Langlois; it cost £76 in 1760. The portraits are eventeenth century, the families of the 4th and 5th Earls. On the left as you enter there is a fine full-length standing portrait of William, the 5th Earl, as a young boy painted in 1627 by Johann Priwitzer, a Hungarian artist who was ommissioned to paint all the children of the 4th Earl; four other portraits are in the Long Gallery. Over the emergency exit door is a small portrait by Claude Lefevre (1633-75) of Lord William Russell, who was later executed for high treason. His executioner was John Ketch, notorious for his blunt instruments. A picture by John Downman (c 1750-1824) depict.