Relhan Collection : 93-98, 100-101 Cambridge St John’s College: shields of arms or hatchments

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>(<b>93-94, 96-98</b>) are called ‘shields of arms’ by Benton, whereas (<b>95</b>) and (<b>100-101</b>) are called hatchments, a distinction retained here, but all are plainly arms displayed at funerals, containing appropriate mottos for a deceased person surmounted by cherubs, etc, the only difference with (<b>95</b>) and (<b>100-101) </b>being that they show the whole thing, perhaps because they are decorated in the borders with skulls, bones and hour-glasses. In the case of (<b>93-94, 96-98</b>) and (<b>100-101</b>) the St John College’s College arms are impaled with that of the subject, so they are presumably masters or senior fellows of that college, probably all late C18 – early C19. (<b>95</b>) is not labelled as belonging to St John’s and the college’s arms are not shown, but the fact it occurs in the midst of other St John’s arms plainly convinced Benton it was at that college too. In the case of (<b>100-101</b>), occurring after a diversion to Christ’s, the location is not labelled on the original so Benton eschewed any location besides Cambridge, but both impale the college’s arms, so evidently are also of fellows of St John’s. Relhan lived opposite the college, so the concentration here is not surprising. None are dated and the location of all, if they survive, is unknown. </p><p>Saunders P pers comm</p></p>