The Ladye's Knight, by David Wilkie Wynfield (1837-1887). 1873. Oil on canvas. 42 5/8 x 58 5/8 inches (108.3 x 148.8 cm). Collection of Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead, accession no. TWCMS : B3207. Photo credit: Shipley Art Gallery. Image reproduced from Art UK for the purpose of non-commercial research. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Wynfield exhibited this painting at the Royal Academy in 1873, no. 913, accompanied by these lines in the catalogue:
It was customary when a Knight was about to contend on behalf of the ladies of his country, for his fair constituents to present him with a favour to be worn on the occasion. "Truth it is that the Wednesday next before the solemn and devout resurrection of our blessed Saviour, I drew me nearer to the Queen of England and France (Elizabeth Woodville), to whom I am right humble servant, subject, and brother. And as I spoke to her Highness, on my bended knee, I know not how it was, but the ladies of her court environed me about, and I took heed that they had given me a collar to which was attached a flower of Souvenance, enamelled, and in manner of emprise, etc." – Letter from Sir Anthony Woodville.
The painting features a knight in red kneeling before a lady in a shimmering grey silk gown with white sleeves who presumably represents Elizabeth Woodville who became the wife of King Edward IV on her marriage on May 1, 1464. She was a key figure in the War of the Roses between the opposing Lancastrian and Yorkist forces and was to become the grandmother of the future King Henry VIII. Anthony Woodville was renowned as a great tournament champion so was a logical choice for the knight depicted in Wynfield's painting. After the death of Kind Edward IV, Anthony was arrested and executed by the Duke of Gloucester, who was later to become King Richard III. In its palette and handling the treatment of this work is more reminiscent of Wynfield's works of the early 1860s than to his paintings of a decade later. On the right side of the painting can be seen a large grouping of the ladies of Elizabeth's court while to the left are the male retinue of her brother. The knight immediately behind Sir Anthony Woodville is clad in the costume of a Knights Templar despite the order having been officially dissolved by Pope Clement V in 1312. A tent canopy is behind the figures and the scene occurs at dawn. A landscape of rolling hills is in the background.
The critic of The Art Journal found the work skillfully painted although the colour lacked brilliancy:
The Ladye's Knight (913), D. W. Wynfield, illustrates with considerable force an interesting custom of chivalrous times. It was then the habit, when a knight was about to contend on behalf of the ladies of his country, for his fair constituents to present him with a favour to be worn in the fight...The artist has handled this subject with skill. The general tone of the picture is not specially suggestive of the colour and spirit of the times of Romance. There is no elaboration of beautiful detail, no trace of the rich symbolism which characterizes the time. Good sound workmanship the picture, however, does contain and sufficient mastery of expression to render the scene intelligible and interesting. The colour, as usual with the painter, fails of brilliancy, but it is consistent throughout, with a quiet and sober effect. [238]
F. G. Stephens discussed this work in his Fine Art Gossip column in The Athenaeum even prior to the Royal Academy exhibition: "Mr. Wynfield is painting The Ladies' Knight, a figure of a man in armour kneeling before a lady, who gives him a favour to wear at an approaching tournament. A bevy of fair women surround the pair, and look on with varied expressions of interest" (23). The reviewer for The Illustrated London News pointed out this picture for notice: "Among other works by rising artists which we would commend to notice are Mr. Wynfield's picture (913) of Sir Anthony Woodville being dubbed The Ladye's Knight at the hands of his Royal relative and the fair ones of her Court" (471).
Bibliography
"Exhibition of the Royal Academy." The Art Journal New Series XII (August 1873): 236-41.
"Fine Arts. Exhibition of the Royal Academy." The Illustrated London News LXII (17 May 1873): 470-71.
The Lady's Knight. Art UK. Web. 13 December 2023.
Stephens, Frederic George. "Fine Art Gossip." The Athenaeum No. 2358 (4 January 1873): 23-24.
Created 13 December 2023