British and World Coins, Numismatic Books

Basire, J., The Distribution of His Majesty’s Maundy, by the Sub-Almoner in the Chapel Royal at Whitehall, 1777, an engraving from the original watercolour by S.H. Grimm, 1773, in the possession of the Revd. Dr Richard Kaye, 61 x 47cm (Robinson, pp.46-7 and pl.16). Framed and ready for hanging (£40-60)

Plate IV.

The engraving by James Basire, taken from one of the two watercolours of the 1773 Maundy ceremony painted by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm, was published on 27 March 1777. Robinson states: ‘Plate 16 shows the distribution of the Maundy money, in the Chapel Royal itself, by Dr Kaye whose august figure, gird with a towel symbolic of the pedilavium, is seen handing a purse to one of the thirty-five male recipients…The red and white purses, lying on the silver-gilt Maundy Dish, are passed along by a chain of Gentlemen of the Royal Almonry to Dr Kaye, in front of whom is an official, perhaps the Treasurer. The male recipients are already holding their clothing gift of broad cloth, linen and shoes and the female recipients await their turn. The King himself, in scarlet, together with Queen Charlotte and other members of the royal party, is watching the distribution from the royal pew, the choir is in attendance and visitors of all ranks are present. Altogether there are 186 carefully drawn figures in the piece’