The Wilton Diptych
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| The Wilton Diptych |
| tempera on wood, each section 47.5 × 29.2 cm |
(c.
1395-
1399) is a portable
altarpiece taking the form of a
diptych. It was painted for King
Richard II.
The painting consists of two
oak panels. On the left hand side panel of the
diptych, Richard is shown kneeling. Beside him are the saints
John the Baptist,
Edward the Confessor and
Edmund. The
Virgin Mary is depicted on the right hand side of the diptych, along with a company of eleven
angels. It is considered an outstanding example of the
International style and (possibly) of
English art of the period. It is currently housed in the
National Gallery,
London.
The painting was painted in sometime in the last five years of Richard's reign. Being in the international style, it is disputed whether it was undertaken by an
English,
French or
Italian artist, most likely by a French artist. Its first documented appeareance is from an 1649 inventory of the art collection of
Charles I. The 'Wilton' moniker was added later because the painting was in the possession of the Earls of
Pembroke who kept it at
Wilton House before it was bought by the National Gallery in
1929.
The angels depicted in the picture are wearing the
livery of Richard II (
The White Hart) and one can be seen to be carrying a banner which either depicts
St. George's cross or the banner of the Resurrection. In the orb on the top of this banner can be seen a tiny map of England.
All three saints presenting Richard (kneeling), to the
Virgin and child are believed to be special to the king, as each has their own chapel in
Westminster. Edmund (Left) can be seen holding the arrow which killed him, while Edward (centre) is holding the ring he unknowingly gave to a pilgrim who transpired to be
John the Evangelist disguised. John the Baptist (right) holds the
Lamb of God.
John the Baptist was Richard's Patron Saint, and Saint Edward and Saint Edmund had both been English kings. Richard had a special devotion to Edmund, one of the patron saints of England along with St. George.
The painting is indicative of both Richard's belief in his divine right to rule and his genuine devotion to
Christianity.
*
British art*
The Wilton Diptych on the National Gallery website
