A good servant, represented as a hybrid creature combining a man, a pig, an ass and a deer, carrying cleaning implements and having a padlocked mouth. Engraving, 1749, after J. Hoskins.

  • Hoskins, John, 1566-1638.
Date:
Published according to Act of Parliament 1749
Reference:
29721i
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Description

A mural painting at Winchester College, known as "The trusty servant", devised by John Hoskins in 1579. "In our description of the college we had almost forgotten a painting, which is an object of notice to most persons who come to visit the place. On the wall of a room through which you pass to the kitchen, is delineated a strange figure, which we should be at a loss how to name, if Dr. Milner had not taught us to call it a Hircocervus. Perhaps an account of its composition will convey a clearer idea. The head has ass's ears and a swine's snout, upon which hangs a padlock; the feet are those of a deer. The rest of the figure is human. He stands erect, and holds up his right hand open. In his left he carries the implements of various service, viz. a brush, a prong, a currycomb, and something else. He is clothed in a full-dress livery coat, is girded with a sword, and on his left arm he bears a shield. The explanation of this heterogeneous asseınblage is given in the following verses on the wall beside him … If the picture should not be useful in giving hints to servants for their proper conduct, it is at least amusing as an emblematical curiosity."--Combe, loc. cit.

Publication/Creation

[Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], Published according to Act of Parliament 1749.

Physical description

1 print : engraving ; image 25 x 26 cm

Contributors

Lettering

A piece of antiquity painted on the wall adjoining to the kitchen of Winchester College, which has been long preserved; & as oft as occasion requires, is repair'd, w.th the following Latin verses ... The Latin verses are: "Effigiem servi si vis spectare probati, / Quisquis es, haec oculos pascat imago tuos. / Porcinum os quocunque cibo jejunia sedat: / Haec sera, consilium ne fiat, arcta premit. / Dat patientem asinus dominis jurgantibus aurem; / Cervus habet celeres ire, redire, pedes. / Laeva docet multum tot rebus onusta laborem; / Vestis munditiem, dextera aperta fidem. / Accinctus gladio, clypeo munitus ; et inde / Vel se, vel Dominum, quo tueatur, habet." The Latin verses are followed by an English verse translation as follows: "A trusty servant's portrait would you see, / This emblematic figure well survey: / The porker's snout not nice in diet shews. / The padlock shut no secrets he'll disclose. / Patient the ass his master's wrath will hear, / Swiftness in errand the stagg's feet declare; / Loaded his left hand apt to labour saith: / The vest his neatness, open hand his faith. / Girt with his sword, his shield upon his arm, / Himself & master he'll protect from harm"

References note

William Combe, The history of the colleges of Winchester, Eton, and Westminster, London: R. Ackermann, 1816, pp. 43-44

Reference

Wellcome Collection 29721i

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