Charles Jervas (1675-1739)

The first eight female Queen's Scholars, depicted in front of the doorway to College.

Pelham sits on the left to the front of the composition. He is depicted with dark blue-grey eyes and heavy eyebrows nearly concealing a wart above his right eye. His long grey wig falling in front of his left shoulder and behind his right. He wears his chancellor's gown with gold lace over black coat, with a flocked details, lace cravat and wrist ruffles. Pelham is seated in a plain red chair, draped curtain behind, a letter without writing in his left hand. On the right sits John Roberts, with dark blue-grey eyes and dark brows. He is positioned behind a table draped with a green cloth. Roberts wears a red coat with the top button fastened and lace cuffs; he holds a quill to a page and further papers topped by an inkstand holding a second quill can be seen on the extreme right. Behind Roberts is an archway with sky and trees visible beyond. The composition is lit from the top left.

Exhibited at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, 1905. Titled and signed verso.

The Unknown Warrior was chosen for Westminster Abbey in 1920, from four unknown warriors who fought for Britain during the First World War, and who died in four different battle areas. In the summer of 2017 the artist spent time in the four locations (the Aisne, the Somme, Arras and Ypres), making studies of the landscapes as they are now. This oil painting is one of a series of four stemming from these visits. This painting has been made across four separate canvases, one for each unknown warrior and each canvas is the same size as a Commonwealth War Grave (2 ft 6 in. in height and 1 ft 3 in. in width).