Nicholas Stone and the Monument of Sir Thomas Bodley.

The Monument to Sir Thomas Bodley.

Fellow of Merton College and 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

by 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.

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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 entered the collection  up in 1605. 

Mrs Poole says was once painted green ( possibly to represent bronze).

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

It is my opinion that the stone 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 much more competent and perhaps mature sculptor.

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Sir Thomas Bodley.

The Painted Panel.

Ceiling of the East Range of the 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 time on 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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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.