Serjeant Painter

The post itself fell out of use in the 18th century, after a period when "fine art" painters were appointed, and expected to supervise rather than execute decorative painting, for a good salary.

In the time of Henry VIII, they seem to have acted as at least foremen for the actual workers; from 1527, better artists were made "King's Painter", like Lucas Horenbout.

Gower and de Critz were reputable artists, as was Peake, and these appointments mark a stage in the divorce of the position from the actual work involved.

A patent drafted in 1584, but apparently never signed, gave the serjeant-painter George Gower the monopoly of "all manner of portraits and pictures" of the Queen, "excepting only one Nicholas Hilliard, to whom it shall or may be lawful to exercise and make portraits, pictures, or proportions of our body and person in small compass in limning only" (Hilliard's monopoly was signed).

[7] In 1606, Hilliard seems to have trodden on the toes of the serjeant-painter John de Critz when he put himself forward to paint the tomb of Elizabeth I, claiming that he had "skill to make more radiant colours like unto enamels than yet is to Painters known".

[8] Hilliard reports in a letter to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, that the recently appointed de Critz had reminded him that any painting of the royal tomb was "within the Serjeant's patent".

"[5] Walpole said of de Critz that "His life is to be collected rather from office-books than from his works or his reputation"; and the comparative mundanity of some of the tasks he undertook has led to a downplaying of the artistic role of the serjeant-painter.

[9] A Burlington Magazine editorial remarked: A great deal of easy fun has been poked at the institution of the serjeant-painters, because these had to attend to tasks such as downright house-painting, the painting of barges and coaches, the provision of banners and streamers, and so on.

[10] Hogarth made up his own mock version: ...know ye that I for divers good causes and considerations as hereunto especial moving of our especial grace and our certain knowledge and meer motion have given and granted and by these presents to [sic] give and grant to my trusty and wellbeloved WH gentleman the office of scene painter and corporal Painter to all my whatsoever...[10]Hogarth succeeded his brother-in-law John Thornhill, who had fallen ill and resigned the post.