Lot 363: FRANCIS PHILIP STEPHANOFF 1790-1860

signed, titled Le Champ de Drap d'Or and dated 1823

oil on panel, held in a frame painted by Thomas Willement

31 by 66 cm., 12 1/4 by 26 in.

Power in the early sixteenth century was divided between France, ruled by Francis I and the Holy Roman Empire and in 1520, Henry VII of England arranged to meet with Francis for a series of festivals which became known as the Field of the Cloth of Gold. The festivals were intended to result in the signing of a treaty between the nations of France and Britain but only emphasised the personal and political rivalry between the two kings. Cardinal Wolsey had urged Henry to arrange a meeting between him and the French King, near Calais, between the towns of Ardres and Guines. The two young rival monarchs met in order to try to outshine and impress one another in a series of displays of wealth. Each with great retinues, they erected magnificent pavilions swathed in cloths made from gold threads woven with silk. Jousts and other competitions of skill and strength followed and vast and lavish banquets were eaten, each intended to be better than their rival's. The feasted only ended when Henry challenged Francis to a wrestling match which concluded when Henry was thrown to the ground. The festivals of the Field of the Cloth of Gold lasted three weeks, from the 7^th June to the 24^th June and almost bankrupted the treasuries of France and England. The treaty remained unsigned and only a few weeks later Henry allied himself with Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor and when war was declared against Francis by Charles, England was forced to take up arms in the war.