Bensley Collection

The Death of the Good Old Man (Plate V). The shrouded body of a bearded old man lies on a bed with the Bible in his hand, surrounded by young women praying

The Descent of Man into the Vale of Death (Plate II). Men and women, old and young, mothers with babes, infirm and healthy, walk, run, crawl and hobble down a path into a cave

The Counseller, King, Warrior, Mother and Child in the Tomb (Plate VIII). Bodies of a bearded sage, king with crown and sceptre, knight in armour with sword, mother in shroud embracing a baby

The Soul hovering over the Body reluctantly parting with Life (Plate VI). A woman's spirit looks down with shock at her corpse in a shroud on her deathbed

The Soul exploring the recesses of the Grave (Plate VII). A woman in a shroud with candle walks toward flames in a cave. A man watches from above in the moonlight

Death of the Strong Wicked Man (Plate IV). A woman screams in grief over the body of a man on a mattress. HIs spirit ascends through a window. Another girl stands weeping at the head of the bed

Christ descending into the Grave (Plate I). A radiant figure of Jesus Christ, holding two large keys, walks down a staircase into a sea of flames

The Reunion of the Soul and the Body (Plate X). A male figure embraced by a shrouded woman spirit diving from above. Flames and smoke billow from a tomb and gravestone

The Meeting of the Family in Heaven (Plate XI). A man and woman embrace surrounded by children hugging. Two angels hover over the family

William Blake, English visionary poet and artist
Portrait of William Blake, English poet, painter, and printmaker, 1757-1827. Blake seated on a bench in coat, waistcoat, cravat, holding a graver

Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley, 1546-1621
Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley, Scottish politician, 1546-1621. Commander of Paisley Abbey, fought for Mary Queen of Scots at the Battle of Langside, 1568

Effigy of Mary, Countess of Buckingham, c.1570-1632. Second wife of Sir George Villiers, c. 1544-1606. In veil, coronet, ruff collar, ermine-lined robe. Mislabeled Elizabeth, Countess of Buckingham

Sir George Villiers, English knight, 1544-1606
Sir George Villiers, English knight, country gentleman, court of Queen Elizabeth I, 1544-1606

Sir Robert Shirley in Persian costume
Sir Robert Shirley, English traveller and adventurer, c.1581-1628. Younger brother of Sir Anthony Shirley and Sir Thomas Shirley. Notable for his help modernising the Persian Safavid army

Philip Yorke, 2nd Earl Hardwicke, 1720-1790. Classical scholar and historian. In the parliamentary ceremonial robes of an earl. Philip, 2nd Earl of Hardwicke

Sir Anthony Mildmay, Elizabeth I's ambassador in Paris
Sir Anthony Mildmay, Queen Elizabeth I's ambassador to the court of Henry IV in Paris for two years, died 1617

Thomas Townshend, British Whig politician, 1701-1780
Thomas Townshend, British Whig politician and scholar, 1701-1780. Educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. MP for Winchelsea. Father of Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney

Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, 1690-1764. Wearing a powdered wig and the ceremonial robes of the Lord Chancellor. From the collection at Wimple. Philip, First Earl of Hardwicke

Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont, 1710-1763. British statesman, MP, and later Secretary of State. Charles, Earl of Egremont. From a painting in the collection at Petworth House

Anne Howard, Countess of Carlisle, 1674-1752. Wife of Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle; daughter of Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex. Ann, Countess of Carlisle

Roger Gale, English antiquary and historian, 1672-1744. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, VP of the Society of Antiquaries, Treasurer of the Royal Society

Thomas Catesby, Lord Paget, English writer and politician
Thomas Catesby Paget or Pagett, 1689-1742, English poet, writer and politician, lord of the bedchamber to the Prince of Wales, courtier to King George II. Lord Paget

Charlotte Clayton, Baroness Sundon, c.1679-1742. British lady in waiting, bedchamber woman and influential favourite of queen regent Caroline. Wife of William Clayton, 1st Baron Sundon of Ardagh

Jane Temple, Countess Portland, governess to the princesses
Jane Martha Temple Bentinck, Countess Portland, 1672 - 1751. Governess to King George II's daughters. Wife of Hans William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland. Jane Temple, Countess of Portland

James Hamilton, 6th Earl of Abercorn, 1701-1734. Scottish aristocrat, commander of a cavalry regiment, privy councillor to James II to George II. In wig, cravat, ceremonial robes of a lord

Hugh Boscawen, 1st Viscount Falmouth, 1678-1734
Hugh Boscawen, 1st Viscount Falmouth, English Whig politician, Comptroller to the household of King George I. 1678-1734. Hugh, Viscount Falmouth. In wig, cravat and coat

Lady Mary Sidney, mother of Sir Philip Sidney
Lady Mary Sidney, lady-in-waiting at the court of Queen Elizabeth I, wife of Sir Henry Sidney, mother of Sir Philip Sidney and Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, c. 1530-1586

Elizabeth Allington, Lady Seymour, c.1632-1691. Married Charles Seymour, 2nd Baron Seymour of Trowbridge, in 1654. Hair in ringlets with pearls, pearl choker, low-cut gown

Arabella Churchill, mistress of King James II
Arabella Godfrey, sister of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, mistress of King James II of England, 1649-1730. Arabella Churchill. In pearl earrings, low-cut gown and shawl

Rachel Russell, Duchess of Devonshire, 1674-1725. Eldest daughter of William Russell, Lord Russell, and Lady Rachel Wriothesley, cousin of Petworth's owner, Lady Elizabeth Percy

William Shippen, English Jacobite, poet and writer, Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons, 1673-1743. From the collection at Badmenton

Sir John Coventry, English Royalist politician, MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, Knight of the Bath, c.1636-1685. From the collection of Long Leat

Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon, died 1709. English politician, brother-in-law to King James II, Lord Privy Seal, Lord Lieutenant to Ireland. From the collection at Badminton

Sir Edward Seymour, English politician, 1633-1708
Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet, politician and Speaker of the House of Commons, 1633-1708. In luxuriant wig, cravat, coat and toga

Margaret Sawyer, Countess of Pembroke, died 1706. Daughter of Robert Sawyer, attorney general, and first wife of Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke

Dr. Robert Brady, English physician and historian, educated at Caius College, Cambridge University, 1627-1700. Physician in ordinary to King James II

Sir Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy of Ireland, 1529-1586
Sir Henry Sidney, Knight of the Garter, Lord Deputy of Ireland, 1529-1586. Courtier to King Edward VI, Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I

Sir William Coventry, English statesman, MP, Doctor of Law at Oxford, Privy Councillor, commissioner of the Treasury, c.1628-1686. In luxuriant wig, lace collar and cloak

Henry Coventry, King Charles II's ambassador to Sweden
Henry Coventry, English politician; Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles II after the Restoration, British ambassador to Sweden, 1617-1686. In luxuriant wig, lace collar and cloak

Sir John Hoskins, founder of the Royal Society
Sir John Hoskins, 2nd Baronet, English lawyer, Master in Chancery and founder and President of the Royal Society, 1634-1705. From a bust by unknown sculptor

Sir William Portman, 6th Baronet, politician, Knight of the Bath, MP for Taunton and Somerset for the Cavalier Parliament, 1643-1690

Richard Stearne, Archbishop of York, c.1596-1683. Born in Mansfield, educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, Royalist supporter. Great-grandfather to writer Laurence Sterne

Dudley North, 4th Baron North Dudley, English courtier, 1602-1677. In ruff collar, doublet and sash of the Order of the Bath. Mislabeled Dudley, Second Lord North

Colonel Adrian Scrope, Parliamentarian soldier during the English Civil War and signatory of the death warrant for King Charles I in January 1649. Sir Adrian Scrope

Henry Cromwell, English statesman, 1628-1674
Henry Cromwell, English statesman, 4th son of Oliver Cromwell, important figure in the Parliamentarian regime in Ireland, 1628-1674. In white collar and suit of plate armour

John Ashburnham, English diplomat and politician, 1603-1671
John Ashburnham, English courtier, diplomat, royalist and politician, 1603-1671. Groom of the bedchamber to Charles I and Charles II after the Restoration. In plain collar over suit of plate armour

George Griffith, Bishop of St. Asaph, 1601-1666. Welsh academic educated at Westminster School, later tutor and preacher at Christ Church, Oxford. In cap, ecclesiastical robes

Frances, Lady Seymour of Throwbridge, died 1626. Wife of Francis Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Trowbridge. In wide lace collar, low-cut bodice, embroidered gown

Francis Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Trowbridge, c. 1590-1664. English politician and Royalist, knighted by King Charles I and later privy counsellor to Charles II after the Restoration

Henry Percy, Baron Percy of Alnwick, died 1659. Sat in the Short Parliament as the member for Portsmouth and in the Long Parliament as MP for Northumberland

Francis Willoughby, 5th Baron Willoughby of Parham
Oval portrait of Francis Willoughby, 5th Baron Willoughby of Parham, c.1613-1666

John Poulett, 1st Baron Poulett, 1585-1649. English MP and later Royalist cavalier soldier who fought at the Siege of Lyme Regis in 1644

William Platt Esq. English philanthropist, died 1637
William Platt Esq. (died 1637), barrister of Lincoln's Inn, London, who left his London house, library, and money for scholarships to St John's College, Cambridge

Around the world in an iron mask
An extraordinary postcard of a man who for a wager of 21, 000 pounds, walked around the world. Harry Bensley alledged to have pushed his perambulator all around the globe wearing this mask

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