Relhan Collection : 187 Haslingfield church. Mural monument with standing effigy, of Sir Thomas Wendy, 1673, showing funereal banner, helmet...

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>Sir Thomas Wendy became an MP and was knighted at the Restoration of Charles II, and was able to travel around Europe and lead a more flamboyant life than his predecessors. He was a friend of the diarist John Evelyn and travelled in France and perhaps Italy with him while the Civil War raged in England. The monument is a life-sized figure standing in a classical niche wearing his robes as Knight of the Bath complete with other knightly and armorial accoutrements (<b>186, 190-191</b>). Despite spending the Civil War on the Continent, sight-seeing and buying works of art etc, he remained on friendly terms with Charles II. For the inscription and details of the arms and accoutrements see (<b>184,190)</b>. This is an early example of a standing figure in contemporary dress, a memorial attributed to Thomas Cartwright.</p><p>Bradley and Pevsner 2014; Evelyn 1670; VCH 1973</p></p>