Monument in Church Drayton Beauchamp.

 

Monument to William Cheyne, 2nd Viscount Newhaven 

and his Wife Gertrude nee Pierrepont (c. 1663 d.1732).

St Mary the Virgin Church, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckinghamshire.

see - https://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2019/03/marble-bust-of-lord-chief-justice.html

Biographical Dictionary Yale 2009 references - page 258, Henry Cheere, London Evening Post, 7 March 1732 (Whinney1988 251 and 253-4). co sculptor William Woodman I.

Biographical Dictionary .... page 1406 under Woodman  - again references London Evening Post, 7 March 1732.

The monument was probably commissioned after the death of the Viscount in 1728.

The very fine figure of Gertrude was probably added after her death. It sits slightly uncomfortably on the plinth and overhangs by about 5 inches.

Gertrude Pierrepont was the sister of Evelyn Pierrepont, 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull (1665 - 1726

Gertrude Pierrepont married William Cheyne 2nd Viscount of Newhaven 6 May 1680, in London, Chelsea, Saint Luke Parish, Middlesex, England

Gertrude Cheyne nee Pierrpont died 11 June 1732.

The monument is inscribed on the plinth below the statues.

"William Lord Cheyne Vifcount Newhaven

the Last of his Ancient and Noble Family Lieth here Interrd

He lived to the Age of Seventy one years. He Died on the 26 Day of May 1728.

Beloved for Hospitality Respected for Integrity and Admired for a well advised Zeal

for the true Interest of his Country.

To his Memory this Monument was begun to be erected by his Widdow Devisee and Executrix

GERTRUDE Lady CHEYNE sifter to EVELYN PIERREPONT late Duke of Kingfton.

Forty and Eight years They lived together in Wedlock in a conftant Emulation of Acts of

Tendernefs and Friendfhip towards each other the only Strife they ever knew.

Her Social Vertues added luftre to her Birth Her Piety and Charity were precepts to the World

as well as proofs of her Chriftianity.

She Survived her Lord four years Dying the 11th day of Iune 1732 Aged Sixty nine years

Mrs GERTRUDE TOLHURST her Faithfull Kinswoman

as my Lady stiles her in her Will in which fhe is appointed her Devifee and Executrix

caufed the statue of her Ladyfhip to be added to the Monument.

She soon after gave the Strongeft and Alas a fatall Mark of her Gratitude and Affection.

Grief for the Lofs of her Benefactrefs her Relation her friend put an end to her Life

on the 17th Day of Iuly 1732 five Weeks after the Death of my Lady.

She alfo is here Depofited".

The monument is inscribed by William Woodman - but it is a moot point whether it was the father or son who carved it.

 William Woodman I (d. 1731?)

 William Woodman II (d. 1741)

 

This is a very fine monument which I wasn't aware of until very recently.

 William Woodman I. Attributed Drawings:

 Design for a monument to Sir Robert Clayton, his wife and infant son, c1703: HMI/Leeds City Art Galleries, 1999.0008 (Leeds 2001, 12, repr);

 Design for a cartouche monument, VAM D.1100-98;

 Design for the monument to Lady Brownlow, †1700, at Sutton, Surrey, VAM D.1104-98;

 Design for a monument with a standing figure of a man in chancellor’s robes, D.1105-98; unfinished design for a monument, VAM D.1113-98;

 Monument design based on S Gribelin, A Book of Ornaments, 1700, pl 1, VAM D.1139-98;

 Design for a monument to Lady Roberts, †1690, at St Mary by Bow, London, VAM E.959-1965

 

 see -

https://gunnis.henry-moore.org/henrymoore/sculptor/browserecord.php?-action=browse&-recid=3019

 

They say -

 "The Viscount is a relatively stiff reclining figure in state robes, reminiscent of effigies carved at the turn of the 18th century by Grinling Gibbons. He lies on a sarcophagus and behind him is a pyramid.

 By contrast his wife’s effigy, seated at his feet, is posed in a vital, informal manner and carved with extraordinary skill.

 

The monument was probably commissioned soon after Newhaven’s death in 1728, but the remarkable image of Lady Newhaven appears to have been added after her death in 1732, by which time Woodman I had also died".

 

 "It was probably carved by Henry Cheere??.  Here is where I diverge with the writer of the Henry Moore Inst - given what we know about Cheere and subcontracting - whilst there is no argument regarding the skills of Henry Cheere as a designer and astute business man I can see no reason why the figure of Lady Newhaven cannot be attributed to William Woodman II or much more likely another and more accomplished sculptor (LFR?).

 

 Gunnis noted that this ‘remarkable’ memorial in its rarely-visited church ‘is one of the most outstanding monuments in England’." 

I think Gunnis might have been prone to exaggerating a little here.

 Nevertheless I say the figure of Lady Newhaven is obviously by a different and much more accomplished hand but sits rather uncomfortably overlapping the plinth on which the reclining figure sits.

 

 

 

For a useful biography of Viscount Newhaven see -

 

https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/member/cheyne-hon-william-1657-1728

The Woodman Inscription.