Sophie von der Goltz
Head of Sale
Lot 134*
Henry Bone R.A.(British, 1755-1834)Sir Henry Spelman (circa 1562-1641), seated in a red upholstered chair with studded gold edge and fringe, wearing olive green cloak with mauve lining, black doublet, white chemise, white lace ruff, gold skull cap with white lace trim, his left hand held close to his chest and clutching a scrolled manuscript, beside him a table of red cloth, upon which, sits an open book and a magnifying glass
2 December 2025, 13:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£1,000 - £1,500
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Henry Bone R.A. (British, 1755-1834)
Sir Henry Spelman (circa 1562-1641), seated in a red upholstered chair with studded gold edge and fringe, wearing olive green cloak with mauve lining, black doublet, white chemise, white lace ruff, gold skull cap with white lace trim, his left hand held close to his chest and clutching a scrolled manuscript, beside him a table of red cloth, upon which, sits an open book and a magnifying glass.
Enamel on copper, signed and inscribed on the counter-enamel, Sir Henry Spelman, Antiquary/ Born 1562 - Died 1641/ in his 80th Year./ London/ March. 1821./ Painted by Henry Bone RA/ Enamel painter to His Majesty/ after the Original picture/ in the possession of Andrew Fountaine/ Esq. Narford Hall, Norfolk, gilt-metal slip engraved, ENAMEL HBONE RA, gilt-wood frame with floral, rocaille and pierced scroll motifs.
Rectangular, 212mm (8 3/8in) high
Enamel on copper, signed and inscribed on the counter-enamel, Sir Henry Spelman, Antiquary/ Born 1562 - Died 1641/ in his 80th Year./ London/ March. 1821./ Painted by Henry Bone RA/ Enamel painter to His Majesty/ after the Original picture/ in the possession of Andrew Fountaine/ Esq. Narford Hall, Norfolk, gilt-metal slip engraved, ENAMEL HBONE RA, gilt-wood frame with floral, rocaille and pierced scroll motifs.
Rectangular, 212mm (8 3/8in) high
Footnotes
Provenance:
Bonhams, London, 23 November 2011, lot 8;
Twinight Collection
Bone's preparatory drawing for this enamel, squared in ink for transfer and inscribed Sr Henry Spelman after the original in possession/ of Anw Fountaine Esqr June 1820 is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery (NPG D17129).
Sir Henry Spelman was born in Congham, near King's Lynn, Norfolk, the eldest son of Henry Spelman (d.1581) and his second wife, Frances Saunders (d.1622). After Cambridge, he studied law, but disliked the subject so much he devoted his time to the study of history. It was around this time that he helped to found the Society of Antiquaries, to which he delivered papers on such topics as the state of the kingdom's coinage. Spelman served Castle Rising as MP in 1593 (and again between 1597-98) and later served as MP for Worcester in 1625.
On 18th April 1590, Spelman married Eleanor (d.1620), daughter and co-heir of John L'Estrange of Sedgeford, Norfolk. They had four sons, two of whom predeceased him, and four daughters.
He was knighted in 1603 and appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk the following year. In 1627, Spelman became treasurer of the Guiana Company, and a passionate member of the council for New England. His general services to the state were recognized in 1636 with a gift of money and two years later by the offer of the mastership of the Hospital at Charterhouse in Smithfield, London. Spelman's histories include, Concilia Ecclesiastica Orbis Britannici and Glossarium Archaiologicum (completed by William Dugdale). His Reliquiae Spelmannianae was edited by Edmund Gibson in 1698.