Thomas Capp

Thomas Capp or Cappe (died 1635) was a London-based painter and gilder.

Background

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Records of Capp's work indicate that he often worked painting and gilding furniture. He became a master of the Painter and Stainer's company in 1621. His father, also Thomas Capp, was a painter in London,[1] and signed a petition of the Painter and Stainer's company in 1578.[2]

Works

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In January 1610 he was paid for painting chairs and stools for Anne of Denmark and working on some velvet curtains.[3] After her death in 1619, Capp and seven associates petitioned King James for payment of £1600 for household work supplied to the queen. His co-petitioners were; William Thompson, joiner; Isobell Shawe and Christopher Shawe, embroiderers; Jasper Heely, silkman; John Salusbury, Thomas Edwards and Gilbert Hart upholsterers.[4]

Among the petitioners, the embroiderers were a couple, Christopher Shawe and Isobel Buttes had married in 1589. Christopher Shawe was an embroiderer to Anne of Denmark and King James.[5] Shawe embroidered costume for the masque, Tethys' Festival, work described as, "against the Prince his highness creation for a maske".[6] Thomas Edwards converted caparisons into wall hangings for Lady Anne Clifford and Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset for use in a long gallery.[7]

At this time furniture was decorated with decorated with painted and gilt arabesque patterns, such work was called "rebesking" in accounts.[8] Capp painted furniture for Lionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex, some pieces "laid red and wrought with white", working with Oliver Browne and John Baker.[9] He painted and gilded with gold and silver a bed provided by the draper Hugh Goddard for Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer.[10] Capp supplied four "tops" or finials to a bed at Belvoir Castle for Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland in March 1620.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Edward Town, 'A Biographical Dictionary of London Painters, 1547–1625', Walpole Society, 76 (London, 2014), p. 50.
  2. ^ Calendar State Papers Domestic (London, 1856), no. 28, TNA SP 12/125 f.59.
  3. ^ Edward Town, 'A Biographical Dictionary of London Painters, 1547–1625', Walpole Society, 76 (London, 2014), p. 51.
  4. ^ Mary Anne Everett Green, Calendar State Papers Domestic, James I: 1619-1623 (London, 1858), no. 73: TNA SP14/107 f.106r.
  5. ^ Joseph Foster & Joseph Lemuel Chester, London Marriage Licences, 1521-1869 (London, 1887), p. 1211: Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1640-1 (London, 1882), no. 11.
  6. ^ HMC Salisbury Hatfield, vol. 21 (London, 1970), p. 287: CSP Domestic, James I: 1603-1610 (London, 1857), p. 656 no. 12: TNA SP14/59 f.14.
  7. ^ Jessica L. Malay, Anne Clifford's Autobiographical Writing, 1590-1676 (Manchester, 2018), p. 91.
  8. ^ Howard Colvin, The History of the King's Works, 4:2 (London: HMSO, 1982), p. 142.
  9. ^ Edward Town & Olivia Fryman, 'A rich inheritance: Lionel Cranfield's legacy at Knole', National Trust Historic Houses and Collections Annual, Apollo (2016), pp. 35-7
  10. ^ Edward Town, 'A Biographical Dictionary of London Painters, 1547–1625', Walpole Society, 76 (London, 2014), p. 51.
  11. ^ HMC Rutland, vol. 4 (London, 1904), p. 519.
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