- Museum number
- 1981,U.3019
- Title
-
Object: The Italians Pegme
-
Series: Arches of Triumph
- Description
-
Temporary triumphal arch erected for the procession of James I in 1604; at top, female figure holding sword and crown, with two figures with trumpets below; upper centre, a panel depicting a king holding a sceptre with a man on horseback, and a castle on a mountain in the distance, with motto 'Hic vir hic est'; royal coat of arms in centre, below which the motto 'Tu Regere Imperio populos Iacobe memento'; lower left, between two columns, a panel depicting a female figure with shield and the motto 'Spes o Fidissi', and a panel depicting a female figure and a bearded male figure with the motto 'Expectate'; lower right, between two columns, a panel depicting a seated figure in a hat and holding a palm with the motto 'Deus nobis', and a panel depicting a female figure and a bearded male figure with the motto 'Decus Nostr'; bottom left, Neptune with hippocampi, and Amphitrite on a dolphin, before a map of southern England; bottom right, four female figures before mountains, with an orb, crown, and weapons; one of seven illustrations to Stephen Harrison's 'Archs of Triumph' (1604).
Engraving
- Production date
- 1604 (1613 re-issue)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 290 millimetres
-
Width: 203 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- The complete series is 1981,U.3017-3022. For a general comment on the series, see 1880,1113.5776.
The letterpress text accompanying the print in the 1604 edition is:
'THE second Triumphall Arch was erected by the Italians: the cost theirs: the Inuention their owne: It tooke vp the whole breadth of Gracious-streete (on which it stood) being ---foote: the height of it was---foote. The lower parte of this Building, was a large square, garnished with foure great Corinthia Columnes: In the midst of which square, was cut out a faire and a Spacious hie gate, Arched, being---foote in the Perpendicular-line, and---in the Ground-line: directly ouer the gate were aduaunced the Armes of the Kingdome, the Supporters whereof were fairely cut out to the life.
On the top of this first square (beeing flat) was erected another Square which bare in the fore side foure more lesser Columnes, on which were all the garnishments belonging to those pillars: as namely, the architriue frize and Cornish, on which Square was placed a great Canted Pedestall, which with his moldinges did diminish vpwards to smaller Cants, on which top was fixed a Personage carued or molded out to the life, her left hand leaning on a sword, with the point downeward, and her right hand reaching forth a Diademe, which, shee seemde by bowing of her knee and head, to bestow vpon his Maiestie.
On the foure Corners of this vpper parte, stoode foure naked Portractures (in great) with artificiall trumpets in their hands.
All which Shapes that were erected in most liuely colours, together with Pyramides, long Streamers, Galleries, and all other inrichments belonging to this Archtriumphant: I referre you to the Modell or Peece it selfe, for the Front of it, as the next leafe will shewe you, so likewise proportionall was the backe side to the fore-Front.
The Italians, were placed within two little Galleries very richly and stately hung, vnder the Arch of the Passage: In whose behalfe, thus much Latine was deliuered.'
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
- Associated Event: Entry of James I into London 15 March 1604
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Archs of Triumph
- Acquisition date
- 1981
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1981,U.3019
