Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Friday 17 April 2020

King Charles I’s Pearl Earring

Browsing on the Internet I came by chance upon an article about the pearl earring worn in his left ear by King Charles I. I had seen a black and white photograph of it many years before but this had both a colour image and a history of this item of personal jewellery.

The post, from Atlas Obscura, also has contemporary paintings of the King wearing the pearl from the age of 15 onwards, and can be viewed at 

The Glamorous Pearl Earring King Charles I Wore to His Execution

The earring itself is now part of the collection of the Dukes of Portland on display at the Harley Gallery on the Welbeck estate in Nottinghamshire.


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