Queen Philippa Interceding for the Lives of the Burghers of Calais
Artist: Benjamin West (British-American, 1738-1820)
Date: 1788
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Description
This painting depicts a scene from English history during the fourteenth-century siege at the French port of Calais by the English King Edward III. Dressed in white, Queen Philippa stands next to the armor-clad king with a hand outstretched toward several prisoners — the burghers, or leading citizens, of Calais. The burghers surrendered themselves to Edward, who promised to spare the populace of the city in exchange for their lives. Philippa intervened on their behalf, convincing the king to spare them in honor of their bravery and sacrifice.
American painter Benjamin West created two versions of this subject following a commission from British King George III. Since Edward III transformed the fortification at Windsor into a grand Gothic palace, the later king thought, “the achievements of his splendid reign [. . .] would prove very suitable ornaments to the halls and chambers of that venerable edifice.” West exhibited this version of the subject at the Royal Academy in 1788, and in 1789, completed a second version (Royal Collection Trust) for the Audience Chamber at Windsor.