ENGLISH SCHOOL, CIRCA 1689-1702 | AN ALLEGORY OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Anonymous sale, London, Bonhams, 5 December 2007, lot 77, where acquired post-sale by the present owner.

The motto beneath the Stuart coat-of-arms, which reads JE MAINTIENDRAI, is that of the House of Orange, dating the present work to the reign of King William III. The central enthroned figure representing the Church of England is surrounded by other allegorical figures, including Faith, Hope and Charity on the ground to the left. The winged figure to the left is Scourge, with Deceit holding up her mask on the far left. Moses stands in purple to the right of the base of the throne, with Aaron next to him and Longinus further to the right. 

The present painting may relate to the decorative schemes that James Thornhill and his collaborators were involved with at the very beginning of the 18th century on behalf of the Royal family. The present work may be compared to an early design thought to be for Thornhill's decorative cycle of 1705 at Stoke Edith, near Hereford, which sold at Christie's, New York, 25 May 1999, lot 79.