EEPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1897 145 



Appendix II. 

 Eemains of Ancient Mural Paintings. 



Report of Messrs F. E. Leach & Sons, St. Mary's Passage, 

 Cambridge. Communicated by the President. 



I have made a careful and thorough examination of these 

 remains, which from the character of the work I attribute to 

 the 15th century. Unfortunately from their fragmentary 

 nature, and the absence of any distinctive costume, it is difficult 

 to assign the date with any great accuracy : yet the process 

 employed — the well-known one of " fresco," points to their 

 execution soon after the building was completed. 



Without question the hall was completely covered with 

 paintings on the upper wall, the lower part being probably 

 hung with arras, afterwards replaced by panelling. I find 

 indistinct traces of figures in several places. 



There are indications of two distinct paintings on the window 

 splays, the first consisting of an outline pattern in red and 

 black, very little of which now remains, and the second of 

 a somewhat more elaborate character. 



The principal remains are on the south wall on the eastern 

 side of the window, and consist of two parts. The upper 

 depicts some naval scene, painted in the usual brown outline 

 colour on the plaster. The only other colour in this portion is 

 an ochreous brown, with which the hulls and masts of the ships 

 are painted, with no attempt by hatching or otherwise to 

 represent light or shade. There is moreover no attempt 

 to indicate water surface, which is somewhat rare. The lower 

 part must have been a fine piece of colour when executed. 

 The ground, I have no doubt, was green (probably somewhat 

 brighter than that of the drawing sent herewith), diapered with 

 clusters of tiny white flowers having red centres. 



On this background stood at more or less regular intervals, 

 tree trunks, with both roots and branches displayed, but 

 topped off suggesting the celebrated "Eagged Staff." These 

 are painted a brick red, outlined with white and '' high 

 lighted " by white hatching. On some of these trunks are 

 hung shields, three of which remain with armorial bearings 



