Plasterwork
Category
Architecture / Features & Decoration
Date
circa 1560 - circa 1600
Materials
Lime plaster
Measurements
2.72 x 3.70 x 1.93 m
Order this imageCollection
Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire
NT 282463
Summary
Plasterwork rendering of Destiny on east wall of Long Gallery. On the triangular tympanum of the east and west walls of the panelled long gallery are two painted plaster reliefs showing the allegorical figures of the Spear of Destiny and the Wheel of Fortune. The figures are taken from the frontispiece of The Castle of Knowledge of 1556, by Robert Recorde. In both cases the female figures stand centrally against a background of vinescroll decoration , flanked by identifying texts in two strapwork panels. For the Spear of Destiny, on the east wall, the figure holds a pair of compasses and a globe, with a text reading THE SPEARE OF DESTINYE WHOSE RULER IS KNOWLEDGE. Installed at same time as the Long Gallery was built c1560 to c1600.
Provenance
Built as part of the Long Gallery c1560-1600
Marks and inscriptions
Left hand side of triangle: The Speare of Destinye Right hand side of triangle: Whose Rvler is Knowledge