Chertsey tiles: Richard and
Saladin
Medieval, about AD
1250-60
From Chertsey,
England
Saladin's fall to Richard the Lion
Heart
These belong to the largest group of tiles in
The British Museum's collections, found at the site of
Chertsey Abbey, Surrey. They combine technical excellence with
elaborate decoration. Each roundel consists of four quarter tiles
set into a mosaic of foliate designs. They depict a vigorous
display of valour as the English king Richard I (reigned 1189-99)
slays Saladin (1138-93) with his lance. The lance is used as a
device to take the action from one roundel to the
next.
When did this scene
of mortal combat occur and what is its significance? In fact,
although Richard and Saladin were famous adversaries during the
Third Crusade (AD 1189-92), Saladin did not die at
Richard's hands. The scene is a dramatic invention as part
of the larger theme of the combat of man against lion. This was
clearly intended to refer to Richard (known as 'the
Lion-Heart') and to act as a tribute to his bravery in
battle.
The subject had a
natural appeal for English kings and was a particular favourite of
Henry III (reigned 1216-72) who had it painted on the walls of the
Antioch Chamber at Clarendon Palace. The quality and
draughtsmanship of the tiles is superior to other tiles produced at
Chertsey and this may suggest that they were intended to furnish a
royal palace.
Do the crowns
framing the two roundels indicate royal patronage? This is unlikely
since the tiles with crowns are arranged as a result of a later
reconstruction, and it is unlikely to have been the original
layout. Tiles survive with letters spelling out Richard's
name, along with other words which suggest that the roundels were
surrounded by an inscription telling the
story.
E. Eames, English medieval tiles (London, The British Museum Press, 1985)
E. Eames, Catalogue of Medieval lead-gla (London, The British Museum Press, 1989)
J. Alexander and P. Binski, Age of chivalry: art in Planta (Royal Academy, London, 1987)
J. Cherry, Medieval decorative art (London, The British Museum Press, 1991)