Friday 22 July 2016

Equestrian Statue of Charles I by Hubert Le Sieur. updated

Equestrian Statue of Charles I
by Hubert Le Sieur.
1633.
Charing Cross.
Looking down Whitehall towards his place of execution.
For an in depth study of the Eleanor Cross and Equestrian Statue of Charles I which subsequently occupied its place at Charing Cross see - http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol16/pt1/pp258-268
I quote from this liberally -
 Le Sueur was born in Paris about 1595 and arrived in this country in 1628. He is said to have been a pupil of the renowned Giovanni da Bologna (Giambologna) at Florence, and in 1610 was in Paris, helping to complete Bologna's statue of the French king, Henri IV, on the Pont Neuf, which was destroyed during the French Revolution. His introduction to Lord Weston seems to have been arranged by Sir Balthazar Gerbier. Horace Walpole describes him as "one of the few we have had that may be called a classic artist." Among other works of Le Sueur still existing in this country may be mentioned the bust of James I in the Banqueting House, Whitehall; the bust of Sir Thomas Richardson in Westminster Abbey; and the statue of William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, at Oxford
The statue of Charles I which now occupies the site of the Cross was made in 1633 by Hubert Le Sueur (fn. n25) for the lord treasurer, Lord Weston (afterwards 1st Earl of Portland). The following memorandum, (fn. n26) giving instructions for the preparation of a draft agreement in the matter is of interest:
"For the Scrivener
 "To prepare a drauft for the right Honnorable Lord Wesson Lord Hey Tresorier of England, of an agreement made with one Hubert le Sueur for the casting of a Horsse in Brasse bigger then a greate Horsse by a foot, and the figure of his Maj King Charles proportionable full six foot, Which the afore saide Hubert le sueur is to performe with all the skill and Workmanship as leith in his powoer, and not onley shall be obliged to inploy at the saide Worcke such worckmen onder his direction as shall be skilfull able and caerfull for all the parts of the Worke but also to cast the saide Worke of the best Yealowie and red copper, and caerfully prouide for the strengtning and fearme uphouldinge of the same one the Pedestall were itt is to stand one, at Rohamton in the righ honor the Lord hey Tresorier his Garden.
"The saide Sueur is also to make a perfect Modell of the saide worke, of the same bignes as the Copper shall be, in the making werof he shall take the aduice of his Maj. Ridders of greate Horsses, as well for the shaep of the Horsse and action as for the graesfull shaepe and action of his Maj. figure one the same, Which beeinge Performed, with the aprobation of his Maj. and content of his Lordship the aforesaide le Sueur is to have for the intyer worcke and full finishing of the same in Copper and setting in the place where itt is to stand, The somme of six hundred pounds, to be paied to him in manner followinge.
 "Fifty pounds att the insealing of the Contractt. Three Moneths after (by which tyme the Modell is to be finished and approved by his Maj. and his Lordship) hundred pound more. When the Worcke shall be readdy to be cast in copper, is to receave two hundred pound more.
 "When itt appeered to be perfectly cast, then is to receave hundred and fifty pound more. And when the worcke is fully and perfectly finisshed and sett at Rohampton, the last remaining hundred pound.
 "Which Worcke the saide Sueur ondertaketh to performe in acktien moneth, the tyme beginning the day the couenant shall be dated."
This memorandum is undated, but has been assigned to the year 1630. (fn. n27) The statue was duly made, and the metal plate under the left forefoot of the horse (see p. 268) gives the date of the work as 1633. (fn. n28) It was apparently not delivered to Roehampton, (fn. n29) and according to Walpole (fn. n30) was sold by parliament to John Rivet, a brazier, with instructions to break it up. Rivet, however, preserved the statue, producing some fragments of old brass to show that he had carried out his commission. At the Restoration the second Earl of Portland discovered the existence of the statue and claimed it, but Rivet refused to comply with the demand. Portland complained to the House of Lords and on 19th July, 1660, it was ordered (fn. n32) "That the said John Rivett shall permit and suffer the Sheriff of London to serve a Replevin upon the said Statue and Horse of Brass, that are now in his Custody."
The statue was purchased by the King, (fn. n33) and on 19th April, 1675, an order was given (fn. n34) for "the effigies of the old King to be brought to Charing Cross and a place made for it." In the following month is a record (fn. n35) of a payment to "Robert Streeter, Serjant Painter … for makeing 2 designes on paper for the King in order to ye setting up of ye Statue of King Charles the first upon a Stone pedestall by Mastr Surveyors Direction ijli xs." In July of the same year is a reference to "naileing up bourds in ye Fence att Cheering Cross made to Encompass ye place where the brass figure is to be set." (fn. n36) The Works Accounts show expenditure for the month of July, 1675, in connection with the carriage of "stones and brickbatts from Whitehall and Westminster to Chareing cross for the foundation of the Pedistall on which ye brass figure is sett," and for the carriage of earth "digged out of ye said foundation"; and there is a further item (August to October, 1675) of payment to Peter Brent, sergeant plumber, for 6 cwt. 2 qrs. 4 lb. of old lead "used by the masons aboute setting up the brasse figure at Chareing cross." (fn. n37) In 1676 a "book" was made of the expenditure, amounting to £668 6s. 1¼d
The sword, buckles and straps, fell from the equestrian statue of King Charles the First at Charing Cross. They were picked up by a porter of the name of Moxam, at the Golden Cross, and deposited in the care of Mr Eyre, trunk-maker, who has apprised the Board of Green Cloth of the circumstance. The sword and appendages are of copper, of which metal the statue is formed" (Gentleman's Magazine, 1810, Vol. I, p. 377). Eyre demanded a formal order before surrendering the sword, and received a letter from the Office of Works in the following terms: "I understand that several applications have been made to you from this Office for the Sword which fell from the Equestrian Statue of Charles the First at Charing Cross (which you received from a Boy who pick'd it up) and that you refuse to deliver it up until you have a proper Order for so doing." He was told that it must be taken to the Office of Works and a receipt would be given. (P.R.O., Works, 6/25, ff. 50–1.)
The stone pedestal (Plate 116) was executed by Joshua Marshall from a design by Wren cost £175 - The upper part has a heavily moulded cornice, with carved laurel and other enrichments. The sides of the pedestal each consist of a moulded square panel with rounded surfaces to the ends, which contain carved cartouches in strong relief. The carving represents the Royal Stuart arms with heraldic supporters and amorini respectively, and also folded draperies with swags entwined amongst a medley of martial trophies at the base. The plinth to the pedestal is moulded and stands on a plain high rectangular base. The top of the pedestal is covered by a shaped granite slab to which are fixed (with four bolts to each) three bronze plates, each about 12 inches square, taking the three legs of the horse which reach the ground. The plate under the left foreleg has around the hoof the inscription, in letters 11/8 inches high: "Hvber Le-Svevr Fecit 1633."


On 22nd February, 1721–2, the Office of Works reported to the Treasury "the ruinous Condition of that fine Equestral Statue at Charing Cross, which is very much out of repair, the reins of the bridle being broke & wasted small, the joynts of the Pedistall wants to be stopt & Cleaned; the lower plint whereon the Pedistall stands, ye stones are forced out and broke; the upper Torus moulding is broke in many places; 40 of the Iron barrs are allready stole, and the rest in great dainger. The whole Iron worke is too small & Decaied & Cannot serve again. The Outward Curb of Stone is broke in many places, the upright Stones are all broke; The flanders brick, pibble & flint pavings are sunk into holes and broke, and is in a very bad condition."


The report seems to have fallen upon deaf ears, but about eighteen months later the Lords of the Treasury themselves noticed the bad condition of the statue and gave instructions for a survey to be made. (fn. n40) The Office of Works reported on 12th August, 1723, calling attention to their previous memorial, and further suggesting that it was necessary "to put the Ironworke at a greater distance & fix the same in a better manner for the preservation of that fine Equestrian Statue." The total cost was estimated at £369, which was approved on 19th August, 1723. Plate 86 shows the railings altered in position.



These photographs lifted from http://www.speel.me.uk/draw/drawhorse.htm
Charles I, Trafalgar Square
charles I
Northumberland House behind
Engraving
Royal Collection
The Statue of King Charles I at Charing Cross, by Wenceslaus Hollar, after  Hubert Le Sueur, mid 17th century - NPG D26343 - © National Portrait Gallery, London
Bronze Equestrian Statue of Charles I (1600 - 49) by Hubert Le Sueur (1580 - 1670).
by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607 - 1677),
Etching, mid 17th century.
pub. Henry Overton.
Plate size - 395 mm x 310 mm.
Hollar's well-known engraving of the statue must have been made before its erection at Charing Cross, for the pedestal therein shown bears no resemblance to the one actually employed. The drawing of the statue, moreover, is incorrect in many details. The horse is shown with the left foreleg raised, instead of the right. The right hindleg is also off the ground, and the King's dress and hair are wrongly drawn. Two other early views of the statue are given in Morden and Lea's map of 1682 and A Book of the Prospects of remarkable places in and about the City of London, by the same authors. In these only the upper half of the pedestal is shown, but it is the correct pedestal; in other respects the views repeat all the errors of Hollar. A view of the statue and pedestal complete is given in a drawing by Sutton Nicholls (Plate 85), which continues the incorrect representation of the horse's legs. This view shows the iron railings very close to the pedestal.
Equestrian statue of Charles I by Hubert Le Sueur.  Engraving
 Anonymous Engraving of Charles I
Lettered with title at top left, 'D' at lower right and description in lower margin: "This Portraiture was drawne from the magnigicent Figure cast in brasse by that most famous Artist Monsieur Le Sueur Ano Dny 1633 exceeding the Proportion of the life being almost 10 foot high, and with great hazzard charge & care preserved under ground by John Revet Brasier living at Holborn Conduit at ye Diall"
520 x 407 mm.
British Museum
Curators Comment lifted from the BM Website

Information from Christine Stevenson (personal communication, July 2012): By 1644 Richard Weston, Earl of Portland and Charles I's former Lord Treasurer, was dead and the statue of Charles I which he had commissioned from Le Sueur formed part of an estate sequestrated that year. As such it was sold off to a consortium of Covent Garden residents, including the royal Surveyor Edward Carter; they may have intended it for the piazza, on the pattern of Paris's Place Royale (now Place des Vosges), which received its equestrian figure of Louis XIII in 1639.
By 1650 the Council of State was trying to establish who owned the Covent Garden statue. Carter claimed it, and then sold it to the brazier John Revet, who in 1662 testified that he had been ordered 'by some officer at Whitehall ... to breake ye said statue in peices to ye end That nothing might Remaine in memorie of his said Majestie', but he had buried it instead.
The story remained well known. The even better story, that Revet made a fortune selling cutlery handles supposedly formed out of the royal bronze to royalists and republicans alike, is unfortunately not true. (Ball, R. M. 'On the statue of King Charles at Charing Cross', Antiquaries Journal 67 (1987): 97-101, on p. 97.)
Revet lost no time in advertising the statue after the Restoration, having an engraving of it made, 'for publique view in Memory of his said Late Majestie'; its letterpress underlined his 'great hazard charge & care' in defending this memorial. (Ball 1987, pp. 100, 99, who believed that no copies of the print had survived.) He then settled with the Portlands, from whom the king then bought the piece, for £1600, in April 1675. ( The Treasury papers relevant to the purchase are calendared in CTB 1669-72, p. 1009 (12 January 1672) and CTB 1672-75, pp. 306 (19 April 1675), 732 (30 April), and 745 (26 May).) It was subsequently erected, with a new plinth, in what is now Trafalgar Square, where it remains today.





Equestrian Statues of Charles I, Charing Cross, and Charles II in the Stocks Market.
Standing Statue of Charles II, Royal Exchange.
 Royal Collection.
Royal Collection
The statue of Charles I on horseback, marking the site of Charing Cross, dedicated by permission to his grace the Duke of Northumerland. Published in April 1792.
Engraving
 1792
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The Pillory Charing Cross. Plate 62 from Micocosm of London, 1809.
Brief reference must be made to the pillory, which was set close by the statue, as shown by a print by Rowlandson (Plate 117) in 1809. The view is taken looking towards Cockspur Street. The punishment (inflicted by the populace) differed according to the popularity of the culprit. Thus, when Defoe was pilloried at Charing Cross in 1703 he received an ovation. The pillory was hung with garlands and the crowd drank his health. On the other hand John Middleton, who was pilloried at Charing Cross for perjury in 1723, was so severely handled that he died before he was released.
Portrait of Hubert Le Sueur, half-length, with curly hair, short beard and moustache, wearing a cloak, his hand on a sculpted head in lower right; lettered state Mezzotint
Hubert le Sueur
 after van Dyck
Mezzotint by Jan van Somer
circa 1670 - 1680.
222 x 172 mm.
Previously in the Collection of Michael Rysbrack - Collection mark at bottom right.
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Small Equestrian Statue of Charles I (1600 - 49).
poss. 1630's.
Bronze.
33.0 x 27.0 x 11.0 cm. without base.

Gilt-bronze equestrian statuette of Charles I depicted in full armour, holding a staff in his right hand. Set on an ebony plinth with bronze foliate borders inset with a gilt bronze roundel of St.George and Dragon. Related to Hubert Le Sueur's equestrian statue of Charles I from circa 1633, this is probably the first bronze reduction of an equestrian portrait of an English sovereign and it has been suggested that it could be identified with Charles I's 'picture of horseback upon a black wooden Peddistall belonging to - Sommersett House' listed in the Van der Doort's inventory from circa 1639. 
Provenance
Bought by H.M. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1947 (from Collection of Mary, Lady Millais). Bought by the Prince Regent (Lord Yarmouth) at Squibbs auction 1813. Possibly belonged to Louis XVI based on design for statue XV in the Palace Royale Rouen 1776 (never executed).




Night by William Hogarth with the Equestrian Statue of Charles I in the background.
British Museum.
View in Charing Cross with the equestrian statue of Charles I standing high on its raised pedestal in the centre, surrounded by iron railings at the bottom; a street coming off the square continues into the background.  1707  Etching
1707.
British Museum
View in Charing Cross showing the equestrian statue of Charles I on a large raised pedestal, with iron railings around the bottom and a circular base, bollards surround base leaving a gap of a few metres creating a pathway around statue; sedan chairs stand within bollards, coaches travel around statue on the street, the entrance to the Mews on the right. c.1725  Etching and engraving


Lettered with title on scroll in sky, and with publication line within image at bottom of statue: "London Sold by Iohn Bowles Print and Map Seller over against Stocks Market", and below at right "Sutton Nicholls delin et sculp.
1725.
British Museum.
View of a square with large roads coming off, in the centre on a tall plinth an equestrian statue of Charles I, surrounded by iron railings and on a circular base, a sedan chair, carriages and figures in square. 1740  Etching and engraving

Maurer
1740.
British Museum.


View of Charing Cross looking towards the equestrian statue of Charles I, Northumberland House behind.  1746  Pen and brown ink with red, brown and grey wash


Drawing attrib. Samuel Scott
244 x 383 mm
1746
British Museum
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View of Northumberland House from Charing Cross, the equestrian statue of Charles I on the right; illustration from London and its Environs Described.  1761  Etching

James Green after Samuel Wale
1761
British Museum


View in Charing Cross by the equestrian statue of Charles I; a man with a bare back pushes  a cart as another man whips him from behind, a large crowd stands to watch.  1752  Etching

1752

British Museum.

View in Charing Cross looking west towards Northumberland House, the Golden Cross Inn on the left, the equestrian statue of Charles I on the right.  1753  Etching

Print by Thomas Bowles III after Canaletto.
1753
British Museum


Charing X by Canaletto


View in Charing Cross showing figures revelling in square; in the centre a lady lies draped over a basket held up by a man over his head, to their left a man sweeps his arm around a woman looking the other way, other figures behind  and on the right an old lady sits by a low table with a large jug; the equestrian statue of Charles I in the background.  1756  Etching and engraving


Louis Phillipe Boitard
1756
British Museum


 View in Charing Cross, London; the equestrian statue of Charles I in foreground, Northumberland House behind to the right, a few figures in foreground.  Etching and engraving with hand-colouring



c.1770

Engraving James Miller after Giuseppe Canali



View in Charing Cross looking towards Northumberland House, the equestrian statue of Charles I on a high pedestal surrounded by iron railings in the foreground.  1795  Etching


engraving by Thomas Medland after James Miller

215 x 273 mm
1795
British Museum

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View of Northumberland House, from Charing Cross; the large equestrian statue of Charles I stands on its high pedestal on the right.  Etching


Magazine Illustration
dated in pencil 1784
92 x 180mm
British Museum
see also below.

View of the three buildings with captions below; surrounded by frame with wreaths, palms and ovals; a later state; illustration to Thornton's History of London.  1784  Etching

__________________________________



View in Charing Cross looking towards Northumberland House; in the foreground to right is the equestrian statue of Charles I on a raised plinth surrounded by iron railings, figures lounge around base of statue, a coach passes on the left; illustration to the Picturesque Tour.  1795  Etching and aquatint


Thomas Malton 1795
British Museum.

View down a street looking towards Charing Cross, with Northumberland House on the left, the equestrian statue of Charles I at mid-distance; illustration to the Picturesque Tour.  1795  Etching and aquatint



Thomas Malton
1795
British Museum.






Joseph Nickolls (1689 - 1789).

Royal Bank of Scotland



Anon.
Mid 18th Century
Museum of London


Charing Cross and Northumberland House, London


John Dean Paul
Museum of London


Canaletto
1752


View in Charing Cross, with the equestrian statue of Charles I on the right, the Strand curving away into the distance; a carriage and a cart in the foreground; illustration from Ackermann's The Repository of Arts, part 26 volume 5.  1811  Etching with hand-colouring


View in Charing Cross, with the equestrian statue of Charles I on the right, the Strand curving away into the distance; a carriage and a cart in the foreground; illustration from Ackermann's The Repository of Arts, part 26 volume 5. 1811 Etching with hand-colouring
© The Trustees of the British Museum.


View in Charing Cross; the large equestrian statue of Charles I on tall plinth on the right,  a pump by its base; carriages and pedestrians on street.  1828  Steel engraving


Thomas Barber after Thomas Hosmer Shepherd
Steel Engraving
130 x 197 mm.
1828
British Museum



View in Charing Cross; to the left can be seen the portico of St Martin in the Fields, beside it si Morley's Hotel and beyond that the corner turret of Nash's West Strand improvement; on the right is Northumberland House with twin lead-capped turrets and a central lion; in foreground to right is the equestrian statue of Charles I with 'T.S.Boys 1841' inscribed on the pedestal, a group of boys sit below, to the left a water cart laying the summer dust, a hansom cab and a striking pair of equestrians.  1842  Lithograph


Thomas Shotter Boys


View in Charing Cross; to the left can be seen the portico of St Martin in the Fields, beside it si Morley's Hotel and beyond that the corner turret of Nash's West Strand improvement; on the right is Northumberland House with twin lead-capped turrets and a central lion; in foreground to right is the equestrian statue of Charles I with 'T.S.Boys 1841' inscribed on the pedestal, a group of boys sit below, to the left a water cart laying the summer dust, a hansom cab and a striking pair of equestrians. 1842 Lithograph

© The Trustees of the British Museum.



From Roque's Map
1746
________________________________
Taking a Plaster Cast of the Statue of Charles the First, at Charing Cross’, Illustrated London News, 19 March 1853.

‘In 1853 the Crystal Palace Company commissioned the formatore Domenico Brucciani to produce a plaster mould and cast of the equestrian statue of Charles I by Hubert Le Sueur, which had been cast in bronze in 1633 and installed at Charing Cross by 1675. The reproduction of the bronze statue and its later portland stone pedestal provided an intriguing public spectacle as a temporary wooden workshop was built around the sculpture at its location on a traffic island near Trafalgar Square.



From -




Charing Cross
George Scharfe
1831
British Museum.


Ever since discovering Peter Jackson's book on George Scharfe I have been fascinated by his work.

Here I take the opportunity to post his charming drawings of Charing Cross, showing the equestrian statue of Charles I


Charing Cross in 1825, wanting Northumberland House to be put in; busy street scene, with figures and horse-drawn carriages on road, and equestrian monument beyond at r. 1825 Pen and black ink, with grey wash

Charing Cross
George Scharfe
227 x 324 mm
1825
British Museum

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Pedestal of Charles I's statue at Charing Cross; the South end of the pedestal ornamented with a sculpture of two infants sitting holding a wreath between them, above which is the Royal Coat of Arms, around the pedestal itself is an iron railing and seated before it in the right foreground are two women who appear to be flowersellers, a great basket of flowers sits beside them.  Watercolour with bodycolour over graphite

South end of the pedestal
John Wykham Archer
Watercolour
372 x 266 mm.
c 1850.

British Museum

Pedestal of Charles I's statue at Charing Cross; the North end of the pedestal ornamented with a sculpture of a lion and unicorn, holding between them the Royal Coat of Arms and above them is visible some of the lower portion of the equestrian statue, in the background a billboard on a building advertises a Photographic Portrait Room, around the pedestal itself is an iron railing and leaning against it in the right foreground is a woman in a bonnet, barefoot and holding a thick broom.  Watercolour with bodycolour over graphite


North Side of the Pedestal
John Wykham Archer
Watercolour
366 x 262 mm
c.1850.
British Museum


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Silver token.

Sixpenny Silver Trade Token
19th Century 
issued by H Morgan

no size given

British Museum.


Silver token.


One Shilling Silver Trade Token
British Museum

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