English 18th Century Portrait Sculpture: September 2017

Saturday, 30 September 2017

Monument of Richard Kingsmill at Highclere by James and Adye 1601/2

Monument of Sir Richard Kingsmill

at Highclere, Hampshire

by Isaac James and Bartholomew Adye.

Put up in 1601 - 2.

Painted stone monument. This and the previous posing show the only two monuments put up by Adye and James during their short partnership.

Illustrated here for comparison with the stone bust of Sir Thomas Bodley in the Bodleian Library.

The Plaster cast of the Stone bust of Sir Thomas Bodley - currently in store at the Weston Library and unavailable for inspection. Mrs Poole states that it was once painted green.

I hope to get access at some time in order to make comparison with the original. Whilst there appears to be no clear evidence - the bust has an 18th Century style socle and is perhaps by John Cheere who made the series of plaster busts in the Codrington Library at All Souls College, Oxford.

Isaac James and Bartholemew Atye -The Denny Monument, Waltham Abbey

The Denny Monument, Waltham Abbey Church, Essex.

by Isaac James and Bartholomew Atye

contracted and completed between 1600 - 1.

Sir Edward Denny (1547 - 1601).

For biographies of James and Atye see - Dictionary of London Tomb Makers .....

Adam White. Walpole Soc Journal, 1999.

see also Transactions of the Essex Arcgheological Society XVI - 1923 p. 57 9 which includes a transcription of the contract document.

Old photograph of the Denny monument before its refreshing- sourse unknown.

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For a short biography of Sir Edward Denny see -

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/denny-edward-1547-1600

Waltham Abbey Church, Essex.

Isaac James and the Norris Monument in Westminster Abbey.

The Monument to Henry, Ist Baron Norris of Rycote (1525 -1601).

by Isaac James (d. c1625).

in St Andrew's Chapel Westminster Abbey.

Library photograph from Alamy website.

Photography is not allowed inside Westminster Abbey for any purpose.

One can understand their need to monetise their holdings but the refusal to allow photography is particularly mean spirited. On my last visit I was charged £18 entry fee. My entreaties to photograph the Newton and Shakespeare monuments were to no avail although they did get me into the library.

In the chapel of St Andrew, off the north transept of Westminster Abbey, is a very large monument, about 24 feet high, to the memory of Henry (Norris or Norreys) 1st Baron Norris of Rycote (?1525-1601) and his wife Margaret, daughter of John (Williams), 1st Baron Williams of Thame. His mother was Mary (Fiennes) and his father Henry was executed by Henry VIII in 1536 for allegedly being a lover of Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth I showed Henry and Margaret particular favour, appointing him ambassador to France and creating him Baron Norris in 1572.

The monument, by sculptor Isaac James, has no inscription and Henry and Margaret are both buried at Rycote chapel in Oxfordshire, in the grounds of their house.

Either side of their recumbent effigies kneel their six sons in armour. Only their third son Sir Edward Norris, Governor of Ostend, survived his father, dying in 1603. He is shown kneeling and looking upwards whereas the other sons have bowed heads and praying hands to indicate they were deceased: William (d.1579), Marshal of Berwick, Sir John (?1547-1597), a celebrated military commander, Henry (1554-99), Maximilian (d.1593) and Sir Thomas (1556-99) who were all soldiers. The carved shield on the top section of the monument includes the coat of arms of Norris of Rycote, supported by two monkeys. The square pedestal depicts military scenes and is surmounted by a small statue of Fame.

This description and the unbelievably poor lo resolution photograph lifted from the Westminster Abbey website

see - http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/henry,-lord-norris

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An early 19th Century aquatint of the Norris Monument by Isaac James

Another Aquatint of the Norris Monument

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Sunday, 24 September 2017

Nicholas Stone and the Monument of Sir Thomas Bodley.

The Monument to Sir Thomas Bodley.
Fellow of Merton College.
Founder of the Bodleian Library
formerly Oxford University Library

Merton College Chapel

Oxford.

with some notes on the portraits of Sir Thomas Bodley.

by Nicholas Stone (1586 - 1647).
Erected May 1615.

see - The Notebook and Account Book of Nicholas Stone -Walter Lewis Spiers
Walpole Society Journal, VII - 1918/19

see also - Jean Wilson, in Church Monuments VIII, 1993. p. 57 - 62.

some random notes -

An original preparatory drawing for the Monument to Sir Thomas Bodley
Nicholas Stone.

MS. Ashmole 1137 fol.143r, Bodleian Library.
Photograph Dana Josephson.

Sir Thomas Bodley died 28 January 1613.
Buried in Merton College Chapel with much ceremony 29 March 1613.

The naked figure below represents Grammar holding the Golden Key to higher learning

The four seated figures surrounding the bust represent Music, Arithmetic, Grammar and Rhetoric.

The figure on the left holds an open book promising the Bodley's name will not be erased from the book of Life - NON DELEBO NOMEN EIUS DE LIBRO VITAE.

This photograph from

http://cabinetproject.oii.ox.ac.uk/refurbishing-duke-humphreys-1598-1602#/media=579

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For Merton College history and architecture see -

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/oxon/pp76-84

Polychrome Plaster replica of the bust - perhaps mid 18th century, of Sir Thomas Bodley in the Bodleian Library put up in 1605. Mrs Poole says once painted green ( possibly to represent bronze).

This bust is currently in store at the Weston Library, Oxford.

It is my opinion that this bust could not have been carved by Nicholas Stone.
Stone would have been aged about 19. A comparison with the bust on the monument which to my eye is fairly wooden would suggest a more competent and perhaps mature sculptor.

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Image result for Bodleian Library, Bust Thomas Bodley

Sir Thomas Bodley
Painted Panel
Ceiling of the East Range
Bodleian Library

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Sir Thomas Bodley.
Anonymous artist.
late 16th century.
Ref Poole 71.
Bodleian Library.

In the bodleian Library accounts for 1634/5 there is a payment of £1. 10s. for 'Sir Thomas Bodlie's picture drawn at Venice when he was ambassador for her late majestie Qu. Eliz'

This probably refers to his timeon the continent 1576 - 80 (he was never officially ambassador) - He would have been in his early thirties.
two further copies exist.

see Catalogue of the Portraits in the Bodleian ... Lane Poole updated by Garlick. pub. 2004.

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Frontispiece to 'Catalogue of the Bodleian library' (1674), with portrait of Thomas Bodley in centre, and at the four corners portraits of the Earl of Pembroke, William Laud, Kenelm Digby, and John Selden. Engraving

Frontispiece to 'Catalogue of the Bodleian library' (1674), with portrait of Thomas Bodley in centre, and at the four corners portraits of the Earl of Pembroke, William Laud, Kenelm Digby, and John Selden. Engraving

Sir Thomas Bodley
along with William Pembroke, Archbishop Laud, Kenelm Digby and John Selden.

Frontispiece to the Catalogue of the Bodleian Library, 1674.
Michael Burghers
after Cornelius Johnson
Engraving
314 x 200 mm
British Museum.

for more on Sir Kenhelm Digby see my blog entry-

http://english18thcenturyportraitsculpture.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/bust-of-lady-venetia-digby-gothurst.html

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Medallion
Bronze
Claude Warrin (Warren).
42 mm diam.
1646.
Bodleian Library accounts contain an entry ' Item to ye painter that drew Sir Thomas Bodleys picture and to Mr Wrren that made his medale, to each of them 2 s'.

Lot 154, 11 Sepember 2014. Wooley and Wallace, Salisbury.

Photograph from the website of Wooley and Wallace, auctioneers of Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Thursday, 21 September 2017

Isaac James, Nicholas Stone and Hendrick de Keyser and their Contemporaries

Polychrome Portrait Busts in the 16th and Early 17th Century.
Isaac James (d. c.1625), Nicholas Stone (1586 - 1647) and

Hendrick de Keyser (1565 -1621).

and some Contemporaries.

A few random jottings - a work in progress.
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This research came about from a project suggested to me by Dana Josephson to investigate the anonymous polychrome stone bust of Thomas Bodley, the bronze bust of Charles I by Hubert le Seuer, Dr Richard Frewin by Roubiliac and several other important busts in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

This project will also research the busts from the Bodleian Library, The Radcliffe Camera and Christchurch College, Oxford.

It is the aim of this work tocontinue the study of the sculpture in the Bodleian put together in the "Catalogue of the Portraits in the Bodleian Library by Kenneth Garlick, pub. 2004".

Garlick continues the work commenced by Mrs Reginald Lane Poole in Vol. 1 of Catalogue of Oxford Portraits (pub. Oxford 1912).

A low resolution photograph of the Bodleian Library looking West.
The bust of Sir Thomas Bodley in the niche on the left and the bust of Charles I on the right
Photograph Circa 1902.

Alamy Library Photograph of about 1920 of the Bodleian Library
showing the bust of Sir Thomas Bodley put up in 1605.

TheSurround with a niche for the bust were probably put up in the 18th century - strangely it is quite different from the surround to le Seuers bust of Charles I

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Scan of a photograph of the Plaster bust of Sir Thomas Bodley.

from

"Catalogue of the Portraits in the Bodleian Library by Kenneth Garlick, pub. 2004"

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Some notes on the London Tomb Sculptor Isaac James fl. 1600 still living 1625/5.
described as tomb maker in contemporary contracts.

Was in partnership with Bartholomew Atye (d.1616) 1600 - 02.

Married Anna Manjet at the Dutch Church, Austin Friars April 1603.

His possible master a Brabanter named Richard Stevens (1542 - 92) of Southwark. info Whinney this is questioned by Adam White - there is no current evidence - but certainly a possibility given the Dutch connections and possible family home in Southwark.

He was living in the Parish of St Martin in the Fields by 1600 and appears in the Parish Rate Books from 1601 - 1624 - 25, listed under the Waterside Ward - close to the sculptor William Ward.

Descended from James van Hawstert (Haastrecht a town near Gouda) who came to England in the reign of Henry VIII.

Father perhaps William James an inhabitant of the Parish of St Mary Overy, Southwark, who retained strong Dutch connections - his will drawn up in Dec. 1595, proved the next year mentions a son Isaac a brother in law in Delft and a cousin called Roger (van Haestrecht?) and mentions a bequest to the congregation of the Dutch Church at Austin Friars.

A probable descendant of dutch immigrant James van Hewstert (a corruption of Haastrecht).

Documented works of Isaac James -

1. 1600 - 1 Sir Edward Denny and his wife, Waltham Abbey, Essex in partnership with Bartholemew Adye.

2. 1601 - 2 Sir Richard Kingsmill Highclere, Hampshire, with in partnership with Bartholemew Adye.

3. c.1611 Henry Lord Norris and family, Westminster Abbey

4. 1613 - 14 Sir Thomas Walmesley, wife and son Thomas St Mary, Blackburn (destroyed)

5. 1614 - 16 Henry Earl of Northampton Formerly St Mary in Castro, Dover, dismantled and partly lost. with Nicholas Stone the Elder

Above info from A Biographical Dictionary of London Tomb Sculptors - c 1560 - c. 1660. by Adam White, Walpole Society Journal, 1999.

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Nicolas Stone 1586? - 1647.

see - A biographical Dictionary of London Tomb Sculptors. c.1560 - c. 1660. Adam White. Walpole Society Journal 1999

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Hendrick de Keyser (1565 - 1621).
Dutch Architect and Sculptor.
Various spellings.
Henri de Keyser, Hendrick de Kayser, Hendick de Keiser etc.

His Portrait Busts - a few random notes.

Master of Nicholas Stone. 1606 - 1613.
May 1613 Nicholas Stone marries Mayken (Mary) dughter of Hendrick de Keyser.

The most up to date study of the career of de Keyser is by probably that by Charles Avery in
Studies in European Sculpture pub. Christie's 1981. which concentrates on the production of his bronzes

Hendrick de Keyser
Johannes Meyssens
engraving 1662
162 x 113 mm.

Hendrick de Keyser
engraving
Jonas Suyderhof after T de Keyser
with a dedication by the poet Joost van den Vondel - (1587 - 1679).
Vondel wrote many satires criticising the Calvanists and extolling the virtues of Oldenbarnevelt
(see below bust of Oldenbarnevelt).
1621.

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Hendrick de Keyser

For the visit to Lodon which took place in 1606, not 1607 as sometimes stated, see Elisabeth Neurdenberg, Herndrick de Keyser, 1930, p.7. I am very grateful to Adam White for this information.

Terracotta
72.5 cms
Rijksmuseum

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Bust of Piet Heyn (d.1628).

Attrib to Hendrik de Keyser II

terracotta

Height 80 cms.

Rijksmuseum.

Piet Heyn became a seaman at a young age. When he was fifteen years old, he was taken prisoner by the Spanish and made to serve two years as a galley slave. After his release, Heyn pursued a career in the merchant marine: he held high-ranking positions in the Dutch West India Company. In 1628 he captured a Spanish treasure fleet (known as the ‘Silver Fleet’) off the coast of Cuba. A year later he perished at sea.

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Currently described by the Rijksmuseum as Vincent Coster
1608.
by Hendrick de Keyser
Marble
Height 75 cms.
Rijksmuseum

William I, Prince of Orange
Hendrick de Keyser
Workshop?
Terracotta
78cms
c. 1615 - 20
Rijksmuseum

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Jan de Bisschop

Drawing of the Bust of Pieter Adriaenz van der Werff (1529 - 1603)

after Hendrick de Keyeser ( bust disappeared).

Pen and brown ink over black chalk

212 x 133 mm

Sotheby's Amsterdam. lot 122, - 29 April 2014.

http://www.sothebys.com/fr/auctions/ecatalogue/lot.420.html/2014/gustav-leonhardt-collection-l14307

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Johann van Oldenbarnevelt

Terracotta

Rijksmuseum

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The Bacon Family Terracotta Busts

Gorhambury Park, St Albans.

Sir Nicholas Bacon

Terracotta

c.1566

Lady Ann Bacon

terracotta

c.1566

Anthony Bacon?

Anonymous Sculptor

Terracotta.

c.1566.

There is some dispute as to whether this bust represents Anthony or his younger brother Francis

Gorhambury

see - https://www.fbrt.org.uk/pages/bacon_history.html

I have contacted the agents for Gorhambury.

The busts are currently in store and will not be available for inspection for about 18 months.

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Johan (Jan) Gregor van der Schardt (1530 - 81).

Johan (or Jan) Gregor van der Schardt (Nijmegen, Netherlands, c. 1530/31 – Denmark, after 1581) was a sculptor of the Dutch Renaissance.

He toured Italy in the 1560s (working in Bologna) and was in the service of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, in Vienna from 1569 to 1576, whilst also taking commissions in Nuremberg, where he specialised in painted terracotta busts, including a self-portrait of about 1573, one of the earliest such by a sculptor.

After 1576 he moved to the royal court of Denmark (with a return to Nuremberg in 1579) where he is presumed to have worked during the 1580s and died in the early 1590s,[2] perhaps at Uraniborg on 30 November 1591.

Unusually for a non-Italian artist, his work was praised by Giorgio Vasari.

Johan Gregor van der Schardt

c. 1570 - 90.

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Anonymous Man

Johan Gregor van der Schardt

Bode Museum, Berlin.

Self Portrait

Schardt

Rijksmuseum.

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Anna Imhoff

Bode Museum, Berlin

Willibald Imhoff the Elder.

Schardt

Terracotta

Bode Museum, Berlin.

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Bust of a young girl

Terracotta

Height 41.5 cms approx

Provenance Francis Richard 10th Earl of Wemyss, Scotland

Jaques Seligman &Co

Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan 1906.

They say the work is similar to the bust in the Louvre attributed to Claude Arnoux called Lulier active (1545 - 1578). It has been suggested that it is by Schardt by Jorg Rasmussen in 1975.

Morgan Library and Musum, New York.