A large high quality 18th Century Oil on Canvas Heraldic Funerary Hatchment Painting, set within a thick ebony and gilt lozenge-diamond shaped frame.Depicting heraldic coat of arms, bordered by scrolling plumes, topped by a crowned Lion over a Knights armoured helmet, and a skull below the inscription Resurgam at the base.Very impressive and decorative display piece. Strong colours and detail remain.Large & imposing scale.Frame width when hung as a diamond: 178 cm / Frame measured square: 127 cm / Painting: 102 cm square.A funerary hatchment is a depiction in a lozenge-diamond shaped frame of a deceased�s heraldic achievements, showing the arms, together with the crest and supporters of their family. Regimental Colours and other military or naval emblems are sometimes placed behind the arms of military or naval officers. Such funerary hatchments would therefore generally be restricted in use to members of the nobility or armigerous gentry, and were hung on the wall of a deceased person''s house. They were later transferred to the parish church, often within the family chapel therein which appertained to the manor house; the lord of the manor usually held the advowson of the church.The practice developed in the early 17th century from the custom of carrying an heraldic shield before the coffin of the deceased, then leaving it for display in the church. In the 17th century the hatchments were sober black lozenge-shaped frames with the coat of arms. In the 18th century both the frames and the heraldry got more and more elaborate. Symbols of death like batwings, skulls, hour-glasses and crying angels with torches were added and the names of the forebears.Funerary hatchments were used in England, Scotland, and also Belgium and the Netherlands where they were described as Mourning Shields. The interest in hatchments lies in the background as well as the Coat of Arms, for the colour of the former will determine whether the deceased was a widower or a widow. The background will vary from all black to black and white halves. The custom developed for impaled arms that when the spouse was still living the background behind their half of the shield would be rendered white, as distinct from the black background of deceased person.The image of the skull also links this Funerary Hatchment to Vanitas or Memento Mori paintings. Vanitas (Latin for ''vanity'') is a genre of art which uses symbolism to show the transience of life, the futility of pleasure, and the certainty of death, and thus the vanity of ambition and all worldly desires. Vanitas art is a type of allegorical art representing a higher ideal.�Memento mori is a similar theme which when translated from Latin means, ''remember that you will die.''Due to large scale would ship to UK and Europe via van courier. �30 London / �70 England / Est: �200 - �250 Europe.Worldwide shipping also possible. Message for a quote.Free collection from London SE18 by appointm...