Robert of Normandy c.1054 -1134

Robert of Normandy (c.1054-1134) was the eldest son of King William I (The Conqueror). Being first-born, all things being equal, he should have succeeded his father as king. However, his relationship with him and with his brothers was so poor it never came to pass. When William I died in 1087 Robert became Duke of Normandy and busied himself helping to lead the First Crusade that captured Jerusalem in 1099. In 1106 he was seized by his youngest brother, King Henry I, and ended his life  in 1134, a prisoner incarcerated in Cardiff Castle. Robert was buried in the chancel of what is now Gloucester Cathedral but at the time was a Benedictine abbey.

This effigy of Robert of Normandy was carved out of Irish bog oak. Wood is not an unusual material for a figure on a tomb, but is less likely for a person of such standing. It dates from c.1240.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

England's cathedrals photographic exhibition, Peter Marlow

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We recently visited Hereford Cathedral to view a photographic exhibition of the forty two cathedrals of England. They were by the Magnum photographer, Peter Marlow (1952-2016). He was commissioned to produce four cathedral photographs by Royal Mail for use on commemorative postage stamps.  But, so taken was he by the buildings that he undertook the project of photographing every one. All bar about half a dozen of the images were taken from the west end of the nave looking east towards the high altar. The photographs were taken in the early morning light before the cathedral doors opened to the public.

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My first photograph was taken from behind the alabaster tomb and effigy of Sir Richard Pembridge (d.1375). He is depicted in a knight's plate and mail armour with his head resting on his helm and his feet on a lurcher.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Natural rim lighting

One of the photographic effects that photographers seized on in the early days of photography was rim lighting. This was achieved by placing a light behind a figure or object such that it lit the edge of the subject leaving the rest in deep shade. Rim lighting continues to be a popular technique today. I don't do portrait photography other than for the family album, so it's not part of my repertoire. However, when we were near St Faith's Chapel in Tewkesbury Abbey, I noticed this rim lit recumbent tomb effigy of Archdeacon Hemming Robeson d.1912, a former cleric of the abbey, and seized the moment. The lighting was mainly natural, supplemented a little by spotlights.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Alabaster tomb effigies

When the Puritan iconoclasts took their hammers to the carved tomb effigies of the parish churches of Britain they must have been particularly pleased to come upon those made of alabaster. This soft, slightly translucent stone, a marble-like variety of gypsum, would yield very easily to their blows, and noses, hands and any other decorative protrusion would easily be detached. You can visit churches throughout the land and find examples of this kind of assault. Sometimes restorers have rebuilt that which was lost: elsewhere the vandalism remains for all to see. The photograph shows two such effigies in the Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny. They are Sir Richard Herbert of Coldbrook d. 1469 and his wife, Margaret. They can be found in the Herbert Chapel alongside six other tombs dating from the early C14 to the late C17.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Chain mail in stone

This tomb effigy of a recumbent knight in chain mail can be found in Worcester Cathedral. A brass nameplate identifies it as Guillaume de Harcourt (d.1223 Lord of Stanton Harcourt), first son of Robert (d.1202 Sheriff of Warwick and Leicester) and Isabel Harcourt. From what I can find out, some or all of this may be wrong. Pevsner describes him as a member of the Harcourt family in the fourteenth century, and many other dates are ascribed. Multiple members of the family called Robert or William don't help. His missing nose was probably the result of a zealous puritan. The tomb seems to have been repainted in 1805, probably following the traces of original paint that survived.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100