A rare painted leather screen Depicting the Royal Company of Archers

A rare painted leather screen Depicting the Royal Company of Archers in front of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh
English. Circa 1930.
Measurements
Height: 84 1/4 ( 214 cm); Width when fully extended 96" (244cm) ; Depth: 1" (2.5cm). Width when floor-standing and concertinaed on custom stand: Height: 85 1/4 ( 216 cm); Width: 85" (216cm) ; Depth 13 3/4" (35cm)
Research:
Of painted leather.

Provenance:
Bears Plaque: PRESENTED TO LT. COL. G.F.A. PIGOT-MOODIE M.C. , 1933 BY LIEUT. F.E.S. BOWLBY. ON LEAVING THE REGIMENT. (1933)
Major John Hay Beith, CBE MC (1937)

Illustrated:
Illustrated London News, 4 July 1931, p. 35.
“‘Ian Hay’ in his Ain Hoose.” The Sketch. 20 October 1937, p. 113.

The Royal Company of Archers originated in Scotland in 1676 as a private archery club formed by “an influential body of Noblemen and Gentlemen, who met for the purpose of encouraging the Noble and Useful Recreation of Archery, for many years much neglected.” The following year they sought and gained the patronage of the Scottish Privy Council, a government body that advised the Scottish monarch, and who provided a prize that member’s competed for in annual competitions.

The present screen is painted with a scene depicting the Royal Company of Archers in front of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, engaging in practice or perhaps competition; several archers stand in the foreground with raised bows, while the majority of the Company looks on in the rear. Their uniforms here date to the late eighteenth century, and can be seen worn by Dr. Nathaniel Spens in his famous portrait painted in 1791 by Sir Henry Raeburn, who was also made a member of the company in 1791.

Full research report available on request.