English School circa 1730

Although few examples have been preserved in situ, series such as the present lot were extremely fashionable in English libraries during the first half of the 18th century. Patrons often took a decisive part in these elaborate decorative friezes, determining which themes and figures were depicted. This particular set of studies was at one time believed to have been painted by John Vanderbank (1694-1739), and it has recently been suggested that these compositions might be by the hand of Francis Hayman (1708-1776).  Although these canvases still elude definite attribution, their subject matter has been thoroughly deciphered: historical figures from the past, both distant and recent, are grouped according to defined themes, such as politics, literature, architecture or religious philosophy. A vast majority of these illustrious personages can be identified. For example, the theme of composition A, shown above, is poetry.  The artist included, from the left, Jean-Baptiste Massillon (1663-1742), Nicolas Boileau (1636-1711), Horace (65-8 BCE), Sappho (6th century BCE), John Milton (1608-1674) and Longinus (1st century AD).  Only the rightmost figure has not yet been identified.  The selected figures all made significant contributions to the art of writing, and poetry in particular.  However, some of these choices are unexpected, which strongly suggests that they reflect the taste and opinions of the cycle's patron.

B: St Jerome, Jacques Benigne Bossuet (1627-1704), Thomas More (1478-1535), Isaac Watts (1674-1748) and (possibly) St Gregory.

C: Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (1609-1674), two unidentified figures, Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) and Julius Caesar (circa 100-44 BCE).

D: Charles II, King of England (1630-1685), Philip IV, KIng of Spain (1605-1665), WIlliam Harvey, M.D. (1578-1657), Robert Boyle (1627-1691), Gerhardus Mercator (1512-1594) and an unidentified figure.

E: Erastothenes (276-194 BCE), John Flamsteed (1646-1719), Rene Descartes (1596-1650), Chrysippus of Soli (280-206 BCE) and Archimedes (287-212 BCE).

F: Sir Chistopher Wren (1632-1723), Sir Francis Prujean, M.D. (1593-1666), Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726), Professor Nicholas Saunderson (1682-1759), Sir Thomas Thornhill (1675-1734) and John Wilkins (1614-1672).

G: Aristophanes (448-385 BCE), Torquato Tasso (1544-1595), Jean Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière (1622-1673), William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), Alexander Pope (1688-1744), Homer (12th century BCE?) and Virgil (70-19 BCE).

H: John Locke (1632-1704), Thomas Gale, D.D. (circa 1635-1702), Benjamin Hoadley, Bishop in succession of Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury and Winchester (1676-1761), John Wallis, D.D. (1616-1703), Thomas Cramner, Archbishop of Canterbury (1489-1556), Thomas Birch, D.D. (1705-1766), Prophet Mohamed (570-632) and Confucius (551-479 BCE).

I: Ptolemy II Philadelphus (309-246 BCE), Thales (635-543 BCE), Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), Dr. Edmond Halley (1656-1742), Nicholas Copernicus (1473-1543) and Tycho Brache (1546-1601).

J: Stephen Hales (1677-1761), Anders Celsius (1701-1744), Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. (1660-1753), Demosthenes (384-322 BCE) and Christopher Columbus (1451-1506).

K: William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker (1620-1684), Abraham Hill (1635-1721), Johann Kepler (1571-1630), Roger Bacon (circa 1214-1294) and Abraham de Moivre (1667-1754).

L: Sir Joseph Williamson (1633-1701), an unidentified figure, Seth Ward, Bishop of Salisbury (1617-1689), Charled de Secondat, Baron de la Brede et de Montesquieu (1689-1755) and two unidentified figures.