The Ashbourne Portrait and the Earl of Oxford from Sarah Rosenbaum

Erin Blake, the Curator of Art, was asked what the Oxfordians see in the Ashbourne Portrait that supports their cause.

"They see in the design of the thumb ring a Boar’s Head, representing de Vere.

They identify the 3 animals in the Coat of Arms not as rams (the Hamersley Coat of Arms), but as griffins (the de Vere Coat of Arms). They also believe that the entire inscription of age and date was added later since Oxford was long dead by then.

Also the ears were covered up (by hair) to prevent the obvious recognition of de Vere’s ear."

Look what you just missed. Keep your eye on the film series schedule from Joe Adcock

Just presented in the films-for-docents series was ‘The Hobart Shakespeareans’, which is a documentary about extraordinary drama program at the Hobart Boulevard Elementary School in Los Angeles. Students, mostly children of Korean and Mexican immigrants, do a Shakespeare play each year (structure of movie resembles the ``Shakespeare Behind Bars'' format).The year this documentary was made, the play was ``Hamlet.'' This inner city public school program has become so celebrated that it attracted a visit by Royal Shakespeare Company troupers, including Ian McKellen and Michael York, who make cameo appearances in the movie. Running time is 55 minutes.

Get into your car and drive to an English Manor House (What we did on our summer vacation.) by Sarah Rosenbaum

Agecroft Hall was first built near Manchester, England in the 15th Century. Like so many country homes, it was added on to during the following centuries; but by the 1920's it was vacant, falling into ruin and threatened by a planned highway. An American bought it, had it dismantled and had the parts shipped to Richmond, Virginia. There it was reassembled (but only a quarter as big as it had been before) as a home for the purchaser and his wife and as a centerpiece for a large development of houses, built in an English style and with street names like Canterbury and Banbury. A tour includes rooms with large mullioned windows, big fireplaces, linenfold paneling and a lovely carved staircase. There are furnishings as well: paintings (one original to the house), rush lights, rushes on the floor and some early chests and chairs. There are even a few books including a Gerard’s Herbal, lying open on a table in full sun (ouch! Maybe it was a reproduction.)

Surrounding the house are gardens, added over the years by the purchaser’s widow. These include a knot garden, a herb garden and a Tradescant Garden containing only plants first identified by the English naturalist John Tradescant. On the other side of the house is a turf maze and a bowling green.

Docent Emeritus Marie Anne Schiffmann and I made a lovely day trip of it, having lunch and also visiting an antebellum mansion that was built by a member of Virginia’s famous Randolph family. I recommend the excursion to any of you.