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.
