Portraits in the Sun

We get used to seeing paintings displayed in galleries under subdued lighting, sometimes with illumination so dim the subject is barely discernible. Thus it comes as a bit of a surprise to see these pictures of Oliver Cromwell and Sir Charles Lucas in Stow Town Hall so boldly lit. As it happens they are not the originals but copies painted in the 1930s so perhaps it doesn't matter - it's no concern of mine anyway.


The Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold was the last fought in the English Civil War. The action took place on March 21st, 1646 and resulted in a defeat for the Royalists. We are fortunate in mainland Britain not to have suffered a full-blown civil conflict since then although doubtless we could find an excuse for one if we tried hard enough; such is the nature of the beast.