{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1140382"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1140382/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EG3941/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EG3941/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010EG3941","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1140382/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1140382","accessionNumber":"DYCE.855","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[{"title":"Procession of the Flitch of Bacon","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"First sketch for the <i>Procession of the Flitch of Bacon</i>; Studies for part of the composition, - the principal figures of the leading group, the musicians, the horseman carrying the flitch, and the happy pair riding together - without all the figures behind. The whole only roughly indicated; Drawn in pen and pencil, washed in parts with bistre and Indian ink.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Stothard, Thomas RA","id":"A8892"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"pen","id":"x30618"},{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"bistre","id":"AAT13351"},{"text":"Indian ink","id":"x32680"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing (image-making)","id":"AAT54196"},{"text":"sketching","id":"AAT53576"},{"text":"wash technique","id":"AAT182748"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"drawn in pen and pencil, washed in parts with bistre and Indian ink","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"}],"styles":[{"text":"English School","id":"x44855"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2010EG3941"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLH (VA)","id":"THES49654"},"free":"","case":"DG","shelf":"37","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawings","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x34232"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"mid 18th - early 19th century","earliest":"1765-01-01","latest":"1832-06-16"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Rev. Alexander Dyce","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.3","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"16.1","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Of an irregular form. \r\nOriginal measurements converted from fractional inches into decimal inches (rounded to one decimal place).\r\nDimensions taken from: <u>DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce</u>. London : South Kensington Museum, 1874.","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This resultant painting of this initial design was completed by early 1832, and then engraved on copper by James Watt. Editions of the print were advertised for sale in October 1832.","historicalContext":"The 'Procession of the Flitch of Bacon' is part of the 'Flitch Trials', a local tradition of Great Dunmow, Essex, England. The purpose of the Trials is to award a flitch of bacon to married couples, who can swear on oath that in 'twelvemonth and a day', they have 'not wisht themselves unmarried again'.\r\n\r\nIt is claimed that the Trials date back to 1104 and the Augustinian Priory of Little Dunmow, when Lord of the Manor Reginald Fitzwalter and his wife dressed as humble folk and begged the blessing of the Prior, a year and a day after their marriage. The Prior rewarded their devotion with a flitch of bacon. Fitzwalter revealed his identity and gave the Priory his on the condition that a Flitch be awarded to any couple who could claim a similar devotion. The Trials are referred to in Chaucer's 14th century 'Canterbury Tales', within 'The Wife of Bath's Tale' and are mentioned in William Langland's 1362 book 'The Vision of Piers Plowman'.\r\n\r\nThe contemporary form of the Trails is that of a court presided over by a Judge; Counsels representing the claimants and the donors of the Flitch of Bacon; a Jury of 6 maidens and 6 bachelors; a Clerk of the Court and an Usher. It is not a competition between the couples, but each couple's claim is strongly defended by the Counsel on behalf of the donors of the bacon. Following the Trials the 'Procession of the Flitch of Bacon' takes place. Successful couples are carried shoulder-high by bearers (humble folk) in the ancient Flitch Chair to the Market Place, where they take the oath (similar to pre-Reformation marriage vows) kneeling on pointed stones.","briefDescription":"Stothard, Thomas; First sketch for the 'Procession of the Flitch of Bacon'; Studies for part of the composition, the principal figures, without all the figures behind; The whole only roughly indicated; Drawn in pen and pencil, washed in parts with bistre and Indian ink; English School; Mid 18th - early 19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce</u>. London : South Kensington Museum, 1874."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>THE ATHENÆUM. Journal of English and Foreign Literature, Science, and the Fine Arts</u>. London. 16 June 1832. no.242. p. 386."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>THE ATHENÆUM. Journal of English and Foreign Literature, Science, and the Fine Arts</u>. London. 7 July 1832. no.245. p. 443."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>THE ATHENÆUM. Journal of English and Foreign Literature, Science, and the Fine Arts</u>. London. 6 October 1832. no.258. p. 655."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"Procession of the Flitch of Bacon","id":"V794"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"procession","id":"AAT69290"},{"text":"figures","id":"AAT189808"},{"text":"musicians","id":"AAT25666"},{"text":"horsemen","id":"x44924"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"customs","id":"AAT55807"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["DYCE.855"],"accessionNumberNum":"855","accessionNumberPrefix":"DYCE","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2009-11-12","availableToBook":false}}