Smith Art Gallery & Museum | Details | Royal Arms of Charles II

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Actions Displays	Royal Arms of Charles II Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Download mediaDownload as zip file Object number08235 TitleRoyal Arms of Charles II Creator Francis Dyer (Artist)‎, Christopher Russell (Joiner)‎ DescriptionThis painted panel of the Royal Arms of Charles II was commissioned in 1660 to mark the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy when the King returned from exile in Europe. It was hung in the council chamber in the Tolbooth of Stirling, where the town court was held. There is a little bit of mystery in these Royal Arms. We discovered from an X-ray taken during conservation work on the panel in 1997 that some of the elements have been altered - there is an earlier version underneath! We do know from the Treasurer’s Accounts that Francis Dyer, was paid £16 for “drawing the Kings Arms to the Council House.” Dyer was the artist responsible for several other works in the town, including painting the statue of John Cowane on the Cowane’s Hospital in 1675. The town council also employed a local wright, Christopher Russell to make up the board that the work is on. He was paid £2.18s. A very different job from the furniture and coffins he usually made for them! Even today, the Royal Arms is present in courtrooms across the country where it demonstrates that justice comes from the monarch. Have you ever noticed that lawyers and court officials bow to the Bench when they enter the room? They are in fact bowing to the Royal Arms, to show respect for the justice upheld by the Crown. Production date 1660 Object namePainting, Oil Painting Painting MaterialOil/Panel Dimensions image Length: 1500 mm image Width: 970 mm

Reproduction

Download mediaDownload as zip file

Object number08235

TitleRoyal Arms of Charles II

Creator Francis Dyer (Artist)‎, Christopher Russell (Joiner)‎

DescriptionThis painted panel of the Royal Arms of Charles II was commissioned in 1660 to mark the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy when the King returned from exile in Europe. It was hung in the council chamber in the Tolbooth of Stirling, where the town court was held. There is a little bit of mystery in these Royal Arms. We discovered from an X-ray taken during conservation work on the panel in 1997 that some of the elements have been altered - there is an earlier version underneath! We do know from the Treasurer’s Accounts that Francis Dyer, was paid £16 for “drawing the Kings Arms to the Council House.” Dyer was the artist responsible for several other works in the town, including painting the statue of John Cowane on the Cowane’s Hospital in 1675. The town council also employed a local wright, Christopher Russell to make up the board that the work is on. He was paid £2.18s. A very different job from the furniture and coffins he usually made for them! Even today, the Royal Arms is present in courtrooms across the country where it demonstrates that justice comes from the monarch. Have you ever noticed that lawyers and court officials bow to the Bench when they enter the room? They are in fact bowing to the Royal Arms, to show respect for the justice upheld by the Crown.

Production date 1660

Object namePainting, Oil Painting

Painting

MaterialOil/Panel

Dimensions

image Length: 1500 mm
image Width: 970 mm