Saloon, Audley End House

A view of the Saloon towards the far bay window. The original Jacobean ceiling and wooden cornice can be seen in this view. The cornice was painted in the 1760s, the white paint and gilding is repeated throughout the house but in the Great Hall this decoration was removed. The paintings in the Saloon represent the family of the 1st Earl of Suffolk and many of these were painted by Biagio Rebecca. Historically this room was a main reception room, but was converted to an ante room to a bedroom in readiness for George III visit that never came to be. In 1825 these bedrooms were moved downstairs and this was made into a reception room once again.