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The Judde Memorial
British Schoolc.1560
Dulwich Picture Gallery
London, United Kingdom
The painting has been attributed to both Lucas de Heere and Hans Eworth, who were both working in England at this time. However, neither attribution seems very plausible.
The skull, over which the couple's hands meet, and the candle, are references to the transience of life, as - rather more obviously - is the corpse.
The arms by the man's head have been identified as those of the Judde family, who seem to have been in the wool trade; a woolpack sits on either side of the candle. The bride, from her coat-of-arms, may tentatively be identified as one of the daughters of Walter Cromwell - Joan or Anne."
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Details
- Title: The Judde Memorial
- Date: c.1560
- Physical Dimensions: w1022.1 x h801037 cm
- Type: Painting
- Medium: Oil
- Work Nationality: British
- Support: Oak Panel
- School: British School
- Provenance: London, William Cartwright (inventory no. XXX: 'XXXXXXXXX'); Cartwright Bequest, 1686.
- Inscriptions: Inscribed, top:AETATIS SVE 47 and THVS:CONSVMYTHE:OVR:TYME; on the wool sacks beside the candle:GOOD LEMSTER. p. DAELL; upper centre:WE.BEHOWLDE.OWER.ENDE;lower centre:ANo 1560 and THE.WORDE.OF.GOD/ HATHE.KNIT VS.TWAYNE/ AND.DEATH.SHALL.VS./ DIVIDE.AGAYNE;and, at the bottom:LYVE:TO:DYE:AND:DYE TO LYVE ETERNALLY. The frame is inscribed:WHEN WE ARE DEADE AND IN OWR GRAVES, AND ALL OWRE BONES ARE ROTTUN, BY THIS SHALL WE REMEMBERD BE, WHEN WE SHULDE BE FORGOTTYN.
- Further Information: From the inscriptions on the front it is clear that the portrait commemorates a marriage. From his coat-of-arms it seems likely that the man is William Judde, second son of Thomas Judde of Wykforde, Essex. There seems to be no record of his marriage, but his bride may tentatively be identified by her coat-of-arms as either Joan or Anne Cromwell, daughters of Walter Cromwell, whose brother Sir Richard was related by marriage to the Judde family.
- Acquisition Method: Cartwright, William (Bequest, 1686)
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