Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
This book of English heraldry was completed ca. 1589. The manuscript belonged to the Spencer family, as known through inscriptions on the first few flyleaves, including the motto "Dieu defende Le Droit" (God defends the right). This motto has long been associated with the Spencer family of England, which is the family line of Princess Diana, as well as the Spencers who were among the founders of Virginia. The Spencer family's heraldry is included in the manuscript, along with the coats of arms of numerous prominent British families, including the Hasting, Gray, Beuford, and Percye families. A similar book of English heraldry in the British Library, Stowe MS 693, was also completed at the end of the sixteenth century.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
91478
label
Leaf from a Book of English Heraldry: Arms of Elizabeth Regina
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
91478
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Leaf from a Book of English Heraldry: Arms of Elizabeth Regina
description
This book of English heraldry was completed ca. 1589. The manuscript belonged to the Spencer family, as known through inscriptions on the first few flyleaves, including the motto "Dieu defende Le Droit" (God defends the right). This motto has long been associated with the Spencer family of England, which is the family line of Princess Diana, as well as the Spencers who were among the founders of Virginia. The Spencer family's heraldry is included in the manuscript, along with the coats of arms of numerous prominent British families, including the Hasting, Gray, Beuford, and Percye families. A similar book of English heraldry in the British Library, Stowe MS 693, was also completed at the end of the sixteenth century.
provenance
Likely commissioned by William Spencer, England, ca. 1589 [1]; owned by members of the Spencer family, England, through mid 17th century [2]. Grotou and Grotou, Highland Park, FL; purchased by Dorothy McIlvain Scott, Baltimore, 1994; given to Walters Art Museum, 1998.[1] His inscription on flyleaf iv: ""William Spencer His Book""[2] Indicated by inscription on flyleaf v: ""(?) Spencer 1633"" accompanied by the Spencer family motto ""Dieu defende Le Droit"" (God defends the right)
date
ca. 1589 CE
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
illuminated manuscripts
folios (leaves)
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
39.6
height
27.2
dimensionsRaw
Folio H: 15 9/16 × W: 10 11/16 in. (39.6 × 27.2 cm)
Source extras
cul
English
med
ink and paint on laid paper
creator_ids
6197
collection_ids
MSS
exhibition_ids
none
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
6e0cc6a8b961f4af