Information Sheet: John Souch

John Souch has come to be recognised as one of the most important and interesting portrait painters working in provincial England in the years leading up to the Civil War.

Souch came from Lancashire and was apprenticed for ten years in 1607 to the famous Chester antiquary and herald, Randle Holme the Elder. He became a freeman of Chester in 1616 and a member of the Chester Painters and Stationers Company. Their records show that he regularly attended their meetings (which were held in the upper room of the Phoenix or King Charles Tower in Chester) and paid his dues until 1645 when he is recorded as 'mort' (i.e., he had died). It is possible that Souch, like his master Randle Holme, was a Royalist supporter and that he may have been killed during the siege of Chester.

The picture hanging in the Stuart Dining Room of No. 20 Castle Street is known today as "An Unknown Lady and Gentleman". It is signed "J.S. Fec.1640"; and inscribed on the cartouche "Mors Solo Separet" ('May death alone part us') with "AETA SUAE 37" (age 37) to the left of the man's head.

This painting, which could be a marriage portrait, is filled with the mystery and symbolism which is typical of Souch's paintings. There is much of interest for the costume historian in the depiction of the clothes of the two figures. The grey doublet of the man is made of high quality satin but very plain. Her dress, although black, is more elaborately trimmed. As is common in Souch's paintings there are a number of rings. The lady has a gold ring attached to her gauze collar, an emerald (?) ring on the second finger of her right hand, and a massive amber ring on the thumb of her right hand. He has a ring, possibly set with pearls, suspended from the tassels on his collar. She has an early watch suspended from her belt - this is of particular interest because Chester was one of the earliest provincial centres of watchmaking, with the first 'watchsmith' recorded in 1602. The tulip which the lady holds probably symbolizes prosperity. The man's book is quite small, so it may have been a prayer book.

Only a few paintings by Souch survive. His masterpiece is the large painting of "Sir Thomas Aston at the Deathbed of his Wife" in Manchester City Art Gallery. There is also a portrait of "George Puleston" of Emral Park near Wrexham, which is now in Tate Britain.

References

National Art Collections Fund Review 1983, no.2988.

The Tate Gallery website gives details of the portrait by Souch of George Puleston