The Presentation at Westminster (2018)

The Thames-facing side of Westminster Palace. These parts of the building are home to the English Parliament's House of Commons and House of Lords

Nighttime Westminster Palace. Big Ben is on the left, Westminster Hall is on the right. The conglomerate structure is much larger than it appears. The houses of Parliament are further back in this image.

The 1,000 year old Westminster Hall. It is the oldest part of Westminster Palace.

The West side of Westminster Hall (which faces Westminster Abbey). "Cromwell's Entrance" to the hall is on the right.

The main entrance to Westminster Hall at night.

The main (North) entrance into the massive Westminster Hall

The view from the entrance to Westminster Hall, venue of the 1641 Trial of Strafford. In the painting, you can see the bottom of the giant window and (temporary) screened off viewing accommodations for the royals (as originally depicted by Hollar).

A royal event held for Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall. This image was taken near the main entrance. The grand staircase (which leads to Parliament can be seen at the far end of the Hall. Photo credit unknown.

Winceslaus Hollar's 1642 engraving documenting the scene of the 1641 Trial of Strafford at Westminster Hall.

How important was this event? This plaque (in the floor of Westminster Hall) commemorates the 1641 Trial of the Earl of Strafford, Thomas Wentworth. About 6 feet away is a smaller, less ornate plaque commemorating the spot where Winson Churchill lay in state while more than 321,000 people walked past to pay their respects.

Thomas Woolnoth's historical "Trial of Strafford" painting.

Presenting my findings to the Curator of the Parliamentary Art Collection and his staff

Dr. James Ford, Assistant Curator of the Parliamentary Art Collection

Malcolm, the Curator of the Parliamentary Art Collection, is explaining the issue of bitumen degeneration in painting restoration

Discussing the origins of the painting and the possible involvement of Lord John Campbell

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Making our way from Westminster Hall to the houses of Parliament (ahead). Cameras are not allowed in Parliament (unless you have special permission from the "Yoeman of the Black Rod")

Mary and I in front of the "Trial of Strafford" painting. This painting hangs in a non-public area of the House of Lords. Our gracious hosts got special permission to escort us into the House of Lords areas and to take our picture with this painting.

I assert that Sir Richard Lane is the dramatically enshadowed figure in the left foreground of this painting.

The end of our tour with Dr. Ford. Thanks for a very fun day!

Afterwards, we held a meet and greet at Ye Olde Cock Tavern on Fleet Street in Middle Temple, London. This historic tavern was originally built in the 1500's, and was frequented by Samuel Pepys, Alferd Tennyson and Charles Dickens.

We reserved the small mezzanine, above the main bar. This is Barnaby Bryan, who has since become the Archivist of Middle Temple.

It was a great way to wind down a fabulous day, and a chance to meet some truly fascinating members of the Middle Temple Inn of Law.

The discussion was fascinating, and so much improved by having it over pints of ale!

Leslay Whitelaw (left) was the Archivist of Middle Temple, and my original contact at Middle Temple

The end of a fabulous evening. I'm embarrassed to admit my notes are scrambled and I can't be sure of these gentlemen's names. One is John Miller, a serious historian and author on the Civil War and King James II.

Analysis of the 1644 painting, “The Trial of Strafford”

The title slide of the presentation I gave at Westminster

Thomas Woolnoth’s dramatic 1844 depiction of "The Trial of Strafford" from the Parliamentary Art Collection, Westminster, London.

This figure shows the previous research into identified individuals in the painting. I retained these numbers in my own analysis, using letters to identify additional depicted individuals.

An example of the previous analysis of figures in the painting. This particular online analysis is about John Pym, who led the prosecution of the Earl of Strafford.

This is the original Hollar engraving that documented the 1641 scene

My first step was to add callouts for the individuals and groups identified in Hollar's original legend.

Analyzing the Hollar scene, the original seating scheme became apparent

Next, I overlaid the original Hollar seating arrangement onto the Wentworth scene. To my surprise, It corresponded exactly.

This is my own color coded map of the depicted persons / groups in the 1844 "Trial of Strafford" painting. Each color represents a different group of individuals of different roles in the trial.

My context slide for the trial judges

Context slide for the "Clarkes" (clerks, or court recorders) for the trial. They sat in the center of the proceedings so they could hear and correctly record all that occurred during the trial.

Context slide for the Nobility, who sat around the edges of the trial floor

Context slide for the prosecution (Trial Managers). Note that Hollar did not identify the individual trail managers, instead tagging them as a group. But Woolnoth identified the individuals from records and found their portraits for his painting.

My Highlight image showing the Defense in the Painting

Context slide showing the guards pictured in the scene, guarding Thomas Wentworth.

Analysis Details: the Prosecution

Context slide for the prosecution (Trial Managers). Note that Hollar did not identify the individual trail managers, instead tagging them as a group. But Woolnoth identified the individuals from records and found their portraits for his painting.

John Pym led the prosecution of Thomas Wentworth. Pym was a leading figure in organizing parliamentary rebellion against the excesses of King Charles I, and in bringing down the king's supporters. Pym died two years after the trial and was initially buried in Westminster Abbey. Although Parliament ultimately won the Civil War, when the monarchy was restored in 1660, Pym's body was removed from the Abbey and dumped in a pit with other leaders of the rebellious parliament.

Analysis slide for Bulstrode Whitelocke. Whitelocke was a notable figure in Richard Lane's story and ultimately wrote an important (if biased) memoir of the Civil War.

Analysis slide of Trial Manager John Maynard

Analysis slide for Trial Manager George Digby

Analysis slide for Trial Manager John Glynne.

Analysis slide of Trial Manager John Clotworthy

Analysis slide for Trial Manager Walter Earle. Interestingly, it seems that Woolnoth had no better luck finding a portrait than I did and so painted Earle with his back to the observer.

Analysis slide for Trial Manager Geoffrey Palmer

Analysis Details: The Judges

My context slide for the trial judges

My analysis slide for Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel. Howard served as the Lord High Steward overseeing the trial as the chief judge.

Analysis slide for Sir John Bramston, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. The seating of several judges within this area was adjusted slightly so the most important would appear more prominently

Analysis slide for the Masters of Chancery

The exchequer Judges analysis slide. Interestingly, Hollar did not call out these individuals, but this person appears to be Baron Francis Cottington, Chancellor of the Exchequer. This example illustrates the remarkable depth of historical research painter Woolnoth put into this painting.

Analysis Details: The Clarkes and Guards

Context slide for the "Clarkes" (clerks, or court recorders) for the trial. They sat in the center of the proceedings so they could hear and correctly record all that occurred during the trial.

Only the Chief Clarke was called out in Hollar's original woodcut of the trail. None of these individuals were named.

Context slide showing the guards pictured in the scene, guarding Thomas Wentworth.

Only the head guard, Lieutenant of the Tower Sir William Balfour, was named. The previous research indicated no known image. However, I found this image of him in the National Portrait Gallery. The match is quite clear.

Analysis Details: The Nobles and Their Sons

Context slide for the Nobility, who sat around the edges of the trial floor

My analysis slide for the Price of Wales (future King Charles II), who sat next to his father's empty throne. The king and Queen were seated behind the screen so their presence would not interfere with the trial.

My analysis slide for John Paulet, Marquess of Winchester

My analysis slide for Lord Keeper Edward Littleton. Sir Richard Lane would later succeed him in that role following Littleton's death in wartime oxford

My analysis slide on the Sons of the Nobility, who were allowed to observe the trial as part of their education

My analysis slide of Robert Berties, Earl of Lindsay

Analysis Details: The Defense and the Accused

My Highlight image showing the Defense in the Painting

Analysis slide for Sir Phillip Mainwaring, secretary to Lord Strafford

This image of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford was made by Wenceslaus Hollar (the same artist who provided the engraving of the trial scene)

Analysis slide for the defendant, Thomas Wentworth

Although there were several defense attourneys assigned to support Sir Richard Lane, none of these were included in the painting. This slide provide details supporting the identification of Sir Richard Lane in the foreground.

This is the analysis slide for the figure I have identified as Sir Richard Lane

This slide discusses the timely discovery of the only known image of Sir Richard Lane's Lost Portrait.

This slide discusses the factors supporting the theory that Lord Jahn Campbell's brief biography of Sir Richard Lane was the inspiration for the "Trial of Strafford" Painting

Portrait of Sir John Campbell, 1st Baron of St Andrews, by Thomas Woolnoth (courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery)

This figure is an unexplained anomaly in the painting. I believe it may be a self portrait of the artist, Thomas Woolnoth, observing the trial from 200 years in the future. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any image of him to confirm it.

This was my "Thank You" slide, acknowledging the help friend and graphic artist Rhonda Martinez provided in creating the colorized scene images in this presentation