ACTIVITIES 2002

Reception for Gillian Barlow, Herald Painter on 5 December 2002 (jointly sponsored with the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society's Committee on Heraldry.)

Ms. Barlow studied painting at London's Slade School of Fine Art.  After earning a Master's Degree in Art History at the University of Sussex, where she studied under Quentin Bell, she took a year's teacher training course specializing in museum lecturing, followed by a placement at the Tate Gallery.  Her work has been frequently exhibited.

While living in New York in 1985 Ms. Barlow began to explore again her early love of flower painting, a direction she has pursued with notable success ever since.  She teaches botanical painting at London's Chelsea Physic Garden and her works have been acquired by the Royal Botanic Gardens; Royal Horticultural Society; British Council; Vassar College; Boscobel Restoration; Shirley Sherwood Collection; Hunt Institute, Carnegie-Mellon University; and by private collectors.

In 1988, Ms. Barlow began working at the College of Arms for Lancaster Herald  who subsequently became Garter Principal King of Arms in 1995 and for whom she still works.  Garter's practice is notable for a revival of the decorated letters patent of Tudor times, with floral motifs worked into formal or naturalistic border designs to enhance the vellum document.

In addition to discussing her work for the College, Ms. Barlow showed some of her working materials, sketches, work samples and also a "work in progress".


Left: Gillian Barlow shows an image of one of her recent works for the College of Arms at her talk on 5 December at the New York Genealogical Society. Right: Professor Thomas Bird surveys the rich array of images on display depicting Gillian Barlow's work

Gillian Barlow's work has been featured in recent works on English heraldry

Reception for Henry Bedingfeld, York Herald, on 24 April 2002

Mr. Bedingfeld was appointed York Herald in 1993 prior to which he was Rouge Croix Pursuivant from 1982.  Educated at Ampleforth College in Yorkshire, he was qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1968.  He is a founder of the Norfolk Heraldry Society and a past member of the Council of the Heraldry Society.  He is also a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Scriveners' and Bowyers' Companies; past Secretary of the Standing Council of the Baronetage; and Vice President of the Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society and the Suffolk Family History Society.   His full surname is Paston-Bedingfeld and his arms are: Quarterly, 1^st and 4^th, Ermine an Eagle displayed Gules (Bedingfeld); 2^nd and 4^th, Argent six Fleur de lis Azure three, two and one, a Chief indented Or (Paston).  Mottoes: (1) DESPICIO TERRENA SOLEM CONTEMPLOR (Bedingfeld); (2) DE MIEULX JE PENSE EN MIEULX (Paston).


Henry Bedingfeld, York Herald of the College of Arms, with Nicholas L.S. Kirkbride at the College of Arms Foundation's reception held on 24 April 2002 in New York City


Dr. Benjamin Kightlinger with Ellsworth G. Stanton III, Secretary of the College of Arms Foundation

Viewing of Canon John G.B. Andrew's collection of
Chinese export armorial porcelain on 19 March 2002

Canon Andrew, who was for many years Rector of Saint Thomas Church in New York, is one of the city's most knowledgeable armorialists.  He was instrumental in establishing the College of Arms Foundation in the United States and served as its first President.  Because he has helped design so many coats of arms for friends, many of which have been accepted by the College of Arms, he is referred to sometimes by the College as "Manhattan Pursuivant."  Canon Andrew has amassed one of the finest collections of Chinese export armorial porcelain which the guests greatly enjoyed seeing.


The Rev. Canon John G.B. Andrew - sometimes called "Manhattan Pursuivant" - posing next to a superb example of heraldic workmanship: a library painting displaying his arms in the center surrounded by 13 coats of arms he helped to design for friends, plus some crests.

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