Portrait Panel of King François I of France
- Period
- Circa 1530
- Origin
- France
- Dimensions
- W 16 3/4" × H 16 3/4" × D 2"
- Reference
- #Marh2870
£8,000
Description
A rare Renaissance carved oak portrait panel depicting King François I (1494–1547), shown in profile within a flat-topped arcade with leafy spandrels. The King is portrayed in contemporary parade armour with a plumed and fluted turban-style helmet, his distinctive long nose and beard identifying him unmistakably.
Panels of this type were produced in French court workshops during the height of the Renaissance, echoing the royal imagery of Fontainebleau and Blois, where François I promoted Italianate design and the arts. Such panels frequently adorned choir stalls, thrones, or ceremonial chairs intended for ecclesiastical and aristocratic settings.
This example has strong links to Exeter Cathedral, where related panels were recorded and where Marhamchurch Antiques handled a companion piece in 2010. The destruction of parts of the Vicars’ Hall during the Exeter Blitz of 1942 explains why few complete survivals remain.
Provenance: Exeter Cathedral dispersals; acquired at Exeter sales in the 1980s.
