Carved panel, possibly made in London, probably for Winchester House, the London residence of William Paulet, 1st Marquis of Winchester, c.1520 - 1552

Framed oak panel, carved in the solid, depicting a central roundel which contains the projecting half-length figure of a bearded king (facing left) in armour and crown, with a drawn sword and empty scabbard. The roundel frame is decorated with beads and acanthus leaf motifs. The roundel is surrounded by symmetrical design of acanthus stems and leaves from which project a grotesque horse head at either side. On both sides is a cartouche with a shield with the English royal badge of three lions passant guardant and a royal crown. In both lower corners is an empty rectangular cartouche with arch. The panel is contained within a moulded and mitred oak frame, which is of considerable age but unlikely to be original.

Minute traces of gesso and paint (including pink flesh and green leaves) indicate that the panel was painted (and probably also gilded, based on comparison with the associated panel from Goodwood House), and this decoration is presumed to have been original.

Construction
The panel consists of 3 vertically grained oak boards c.2.5cm (1") thick, behind which are two boards c.3.7cm (1 1/2") thick, which form a rear projecting block 39.5 x 38.5cm (HW), so as to create sufficient depth for the inset roundel. All the boards are glued together. The outer edges of the panel are worked to a tongue, which is housed in the frame of lapped construction, which bears numerous old fixing holes. At each corner of the panel is a filled hole, possibly the means by which it was at one time mounted. Two angled holes through the top, centre of the rearwards projecting block may have been used for a hanging cord. The surfaces on the reverse of the panel are planed and darkened. Under the lower edge of the thicker boards a modern batten has been nailed/glued and there are signs that other, similar battens may have been positioned around the other three sides, their purpose uncertain.

Purchased for £8 (no source recorded).

In Sept. 2019 dendrochronology was carried out on the two rear boards (c.40mm thick) by Ian Tyers, through the generous support of Jonathan Coulborn. An east Baltic source was identified. Tree-ring dating suggests that the panel dates from c1520-52.

Possibly made in London; possibly c1547 for Winchester House, the London residence of William Paulet, 1st Marquis of Winchester (about 1488-1572), on the site of Austin Friars. Thomas Allen, The History and Antiquities of London... (1828) vol.3 pp. 256-7 records that in his day the remains of the building were partly occupied as a warehouse and the interior "has been so much mutilated to suit the mechanical uses to which it is now put, that little of the original work appears. The spacious staircase, with its heavy ballustrade, is one of the earliest introductions of the Italian style of building. On the first floor is a large and once handsome chimney-piece; the fireplace is spacious, and its jambs sustain on trusses the remains of a handsome composition in oak, carved and painted; two Ionic column: sustaining an entablature, still remain ... Among the wainscotting still remains some of the arch-formed pannels richly carved in relief, which are evidently portions of the original structure." The house was demolished in 1839.

Two other comparable panels survive

Painted panel in the Museum of London 2' 2 1/2" x 1' 8 1/2", ex coll. Dr Friederich Lippmann purchased 'many years earlier from Mr Murray Marks of the firm of Durlacher of Bond Street London', sold Berlin (Rud. Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Nov 1912 lot 132 ill., 5,200 marks); acquired by the MoL 1939, and recoloured and gilded in 1912. The Berlin catalogue had identified the arms as those of the Wanoch family.

Panel 24 x 18" in a later wood frame, with traces of gilding and paint, inscribed Jo... (2019, Thomas Coulborn and Sons). Known as the King John panel, formerly at Goodwood House, Gloucestershire until 1939 but is thought to have disappeared during the war years. A 1903 inventory listed it in the Long Hall as ‘An antique carved wood and gilt panel 29 x 23 ins with Coats of Arms & masks in relief & in the centre a representation of King John with the Orb & Septre’.

Object Type
The oak panel, with the image of a king bearing a sword, probably formed the decorative part of the overmantel of a fireplace.

Subjects Depicted
The king may represent one of the 'Nine Worthies' often associated with scenes of justice. They are made up of three outstanding Pagans, Jews and Christians. The Pagans were Hector, Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar; the Jews Joshua, David, and Judas Maccabeus; and the Christians, Arthur, Charlemagne and Godefroi de Bouillon. This was a popular decorative theme in grand houses in England and Europe during the 16th century. Either side of the sword-bearing king are the royal coats of arms of Henry VIII (reigned 1509-1547).

Time
The carving is highly sophisticated by English standards of the 1540s. It may well be the work of a French craftsman familiar with Italian Renaissance ornament.

People
Winchester House was built by Sir William Paulet, 1st Marquis of Winchester. He was Lord President of the Council in 1546 and member of the Regency Council under Edward VI (reigned 1547-1553).

Places
This panel is thought to have come from Winchester House, which was built in 1547 on the site of a dissolved Augustinian friary near Moorgate in the City of London.

1585-1855