Royal servant

10 x 7 inches

Gouache on paper

I visited Stirling Castle the other day in search of inspiration for some more historical illustrations. Looking around on the internet for reference material is fine, but it doesn't beat actually meeting some real life costumed people.

This illustration is of one of the castle's royal servants from the 16th century, during the reign of King James V. More particularly, these were the servants to Mary of Guise, who worked in the palace admitting visitors and so forth. They wore red caps so as to make them easy for nobles to see and identify, and their black garments were a display of Mary's wealth and status, since it was an expensive process to dye fabrics black. The rod is a symbol of office but also has a functional purpose for announcing guests and knocking on doors etc. When the shift was over, it would be handed over to the next servant, together with the jewellery.

Apparently noblemen from this time would take care not to wear red hats, lest they be mistaken for a servant!