  The following are some extracts from the Minutes, relating to Pictures. 24th June, 1601. It is this daye by consent of a wholl Courte of Assistance ordered That if at any tyme hereafter any Mr or Governor of this company or any othr p?sone or p?sones free of the same mistery shall blott deface or put oute or cause to be blotted defaced or put oute any of the pictures of any of this Company nowe paynted or hereafter lawfully placed in any of the tables of pictures hangeinge in the Com~on hall of this mistery wthout the Consent of a full Courte of Assistance That then hee or they so offendinge shall forfeyte and paye for every such offence xli the one half thereof to be to the use of the Chamberlen of the Cytie of London And the othr half to the use of the said mistery. The above order was made in consequence of some members of the Court having painted out the faces on the pictures, and caused their own to be depicted in their stead. 28th June, 1604. This daye it is ordered that Mr Willm Martin Mr ffrederick Mr ffyneinge & Mr ffenton shall p?sently conferre with Decreete concerninge the ffynisheinge of the tables of Picktures remayneinge wth him and if hee will finishe the same wth reason and drawe them to the Hall they are to compound wth him for the same if not the table is to be taken awaye from him. 10th October, 1605. This day it is ordered that the King? picture shalbe by the said p?nte Mrs boughte and p?vided at the charge of this house.
1st August, 1634. It is ordered that the 41 philosophers pictures shalbe rebeautified and repaired by Mr Greeneburye at the Costs of this house soe it exceede not xli. The “forty-one philosophers” were former Masters of Anatomy and Examiners of Surgeons, who as they were from time to time appointed, might if they chose, have their portraits put in what was called “The Table of the Anatomy” (and which was, I think, one large picture containing the effigies of forty-one persons), and the practice undoubtedly was, as occasion arose, to paint a face on old shoulders; indeed, there are many notices to this effect, as also orders of Court for blotting out the “faces” of such as had become obnoxious, or who had been removed for misconduct. 1st February, 1627. Item this daye upon the moc?on of our Mr it is ordered by this Court that there shalbe a large wainscott frame made and a picture maker shalbe agreed withall by the present Mrs for the portreying of the Anathomye and makeing of Mr Doctor Gwins picture and the Clarkes which Charge shalbe borne out of the stock of this house, in which table shalbe placed the figures & visages of every of the Assistants whoe are not painted in the Anathomye table that now standeth upp in the Hall, every of the Assistants payeing for the setting up of his owne picture. 29th March, 1647. This Court doth order That Mr Henry Watsons ffigure in the present Table of Anatomy be blotted out and Mr Charleyes Effigies placed in the roome thereof Provided that his Executrix pay his Legacy to this House. This Court doth order That there be a new Anathomy Table And that all the Assistants whose Effigies are not in the present Table may be sett up in the new Table at theire owne charge, and that Doctor Goddards ffigure be there sett as Reader and Doctor Prudions Effigies may be painted there if he desireth it And this Court doth order that Mr Watson a Brother of this Company shall make the said Table and paint thereon the ffigure of an Anathomy with the severall ffigures of the said Reader Doctor Prudion and 9th August, 1647. This Court takeing into considerac?oon the greate benefitt and proffitt That have accrewed to this House by Mr Edward Arris a loveing Brother of this Company This Court doth order That his picture be sett up in the Blanck Table in the Hall next the Anathomy Table at the charge of this Howse. 19th August, 1647. Upon the earnest request of Mr. Edward Arris to this Court That his Picture be nott sett up in the Hall according to the Order of the last Court of Assistants This Court to satisfy Mr. Arris modest request therein doth order that that order be annulled and not put in execuc?on. Notwithstanding this order Mr. Arris’ portrait was painted, and is still at the Hall. 27th February, 1650. Mr Arris and Doctor Scarboroughs pictures to be sett in the void Table in the Hall at the charge of this House. In 1720 the Court were possibly thinking of purchasing another Holbein, as the following note occurs in the minutes, 3rd March, 1720. Memorandm Mr Lenthall at Burford in Oxfordshire has a Picture of Sr Thomas More and his familey drawn by Hans Holben being a dispute between his Protestant Daughter and his Catholick Daughter in the p?sence of the father and the rest of the familey. 21st April, 1720. It is referred to the Governors to treat with Mr Vertue the Ingraver about Ingraving King Henry the Eighths Picture and to report his proposall to a Court of Assistants. 27th August, 1734. The question of engraving the Picture was again referred to a Committee. 17th September, 1734. The Committee reported, the result being that Mr. Bernard Baron entered into an agreement to engrave a plate; the details of the arrangements with him are all set out in the minutes, but are not sufficiently interesting to warrant transcribing. Baron’s engraving is well known and sought after by collectors, but it has a peculiarity, being a complete reverse of the original picture. Each Assistant is presented with a copy on his election on to the Court. We formerly had a portrait of Dr. Tyson, Anatomy Reader, but this was sold to one of his descendants in 1745 for ten guineas. 10th November, 1777. Mr. William Slade, an Assistant, presented a mezzotint engraving of the portrait of John Paterson, Esq., formerly Clerk of the Company; the original was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds. This engraving is now hung in the committee room. Guildhall, 31 October, 1832. Gentlemen, Having become possessed a few years since of a perfect copy of Hollar’s engraved view of London A.D. 1647, representing the most striking appearance of the metropolis as it existed previously to the conflagration in 1666, and thinking it might be acceptable to the Lovers of the Antiquities of this ancient and renowned City that so authentic a Memorial of its then state should be preserved and transmitted to future ages by Multiplication of Copies. I have had it carefully and correctly Lithographed, and request that your Worshipful Court will be pleased to accept the impression herewith transmitted to be placed in the Archives of the Company of Barbers. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, To the Master Wardens and Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Barbers, London. This picture is now hung up in the corridor. The following is but little more than a List of the Pictures now at Barbers’ Hall, a full account of which has been already written by Mr. C.J. Shoppee. Alderman Arris’ Picture. This picture was painted by Mr. Greenbury who was employed as Portrait Painter to the Company at this period. Dr. Charles Scarborough and Alderman Arris’ Picture. This picture was also painted by Mr. Greenbury as by the following extract from the Wardens’ Accounts for 1651 appears—
Linneus’ Picture. This picture of Linneus was purchased 2nd July, 1844, for £3 3s., the particulars of the purchase and of the picture are set out in the Court Minutes of this date. Mr. Shoppee has surmised that this is a portrait of John Bancks, but though his portrait was ordered to be painted, I do not find that it ever was, and it is not once mentioned in any of the numerous early inventories of pictures. The Minutes of 1844 are, however, so precise as to leave no further doubt on this point, viz., that it is a portrait of Linneus. The Holbein Picture. King Charles II Picture, artist unknown. Purchased by the Company 1720–1721. Inigo Jones’ Picture, by Sir A. Vandyke. Thomas Lisle’s Picture, artist unknown. Sir John Frederick’s Picture, artist unknown. Purchased by the Company, 1665–1666. Serjeant-Surgeon Charles Bernard’s Picture. This picture was painted by Mr. Murray in 1711, the Company paying him £12 10s. for it. The Duchess of Richmond’s Picture, by Sir Peter Lely. Henry Johnson’s Picture, artist unknown. Mr. Johnson was Master 1677; he has been erroneously described as “Serjeant Surgeon” and “Serjeant Knight,” but never held the first office, and there is no such dignity as “Serjeant Knight.” The fact is that Mr. Johnson dying in his year of Master, was succeeded by John Knight, Serjeant Surgeon (commonly called “Serjeant Knight”) and Mr. Knight’s name being so written under Mr. Johnson’s in an old list of Masters, has been taken as the title of an office! Ephraim Skinner’s Picture, artist unknown. Bernard Baron’s red crayon study of Holbein’s picture. “Two Spanish Pictures.” These were so called in the old Inventories. There was also in the Inventory of 1720 “A picture of the Prince Elector Palatine,” but this subsequently disappeared, though the “Spanish pictures” remained in the Inventories for many years. Mr. Shoppee suggests that they are the portraits of Frederick Casimir and his wife Elizabeth. At the top of one of them is a shield of arms, being the coat of Byrkes or Brykes. Queen Anne’s Picture, artist unknown. All the foregoing Pictures are hung in the Court Room. In the Committee Room are various pictures, engravings and portraits of recent Masters. In the Vestibule to the Court Room is an ancient list of Masters and Wardens on Vellum, enclosed with oak folding doors. It is not, however, very accurate. It was at the Hall in 1720, and probably for many years previously. The list was rewritten over the old lettering in 1865. (See head piece, p.1.) |
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