Oil picture. 50 by 37½ in.
The Stocks Market was established in 1282, “where some time had stood
a pair of stocks for punishment of offenders.” It was for sale of
meat and fish until the Great Fire, afterwards a market for fruit
and vegetables. Of the equestrian statue here shown, Pennant in his
“London” gives the following account: it was “erected in honour of
Charles II by his most loyal subject Sir Robert Viner, lord mayor.
Fortunately his lordship discovered one (made at Leghorn) of John
Sobieski trampling on a Turk. The good Knight caused some alterations
to be made, christened the Polish monarch by the name of Charles,
and bestowed on the turbaned Turk that of Oliver Cromwell.” Horace
Walpole says the statue “came over unfinished, and a head was added
by Latham.” Stocks Market was removed in 1737 to clear ground for the
present Mansion House. The statue lay neglected until 1779, and was
then given to Mr. Robert Vyner, descendant of the Lord Mayor. He set
it up in Gautby Park, Lincolnshire, and in 1883 it migrated to Newby
Hall, Ripon, the home of the last Mr. Robert Vyner, who died in 1915.
The picture is pleasantly lighted by the gay costumes of those engaged
in marketing. In background appear the tower and dome of church of St.
Stephen, Walbrook, one of Wren’s masterpieces. There is a well-known
print of Stocks Market from similar point of view.
Josef van Aken, who painted this, was born at Antwerp, and passed much
of his life in England. He was much employed by eminent landscape
artists to paint the costumes of the figures in their pictures, in
which he is said to have been very skilful. He died in London.
By JOSEF VAN AKEN (1709-1749).
_Lent by the Bank of England._