Fig. 5. Name that roundel!
This month’s puzzle comes from the parish church of St Mary in Shrewsbury [Fig. 5]. It shows a group of men standing by the shore with ships and buildings in the background. The central characters are framed by soldiers looking away from them. They include a man in a plumed helmet pointing to another who wears a breastplate below his cloak. A dog lies at the feet of the pointing man.
The roundel measures 25.5cm and includes several shades of silver stain, including lemon. It has been dated to c.1550. What subject does it depict?
Roundels and other single panels of this period typically depict a range of subjects, including stories from the Old and New Testaments, the lives of saints, and tales from ancient history and classical literature, such as Homer’s Odyssey. Moral themes can also appear.
The solution can be found at the foot of this month’s Books section.
