The Stone Wife

‘There is a distinct resemblance to other well-known portraits of the poet,’ the professor reported. ‘However, the coat of arms establishes it quite certainly as his son Thomas, who later in life preferred to use his mother Philippa de Roet’s family arms. Philippa had noble connections in her own right. Her sister was the third wife of John of Gaunt. So it is understandable that in the hierarchical society of the time, Thomas preferred to be linked to his mother rather than the author of The Canterbury Tales. Thomas was a significant figure, Chief Butler of England and a long-serving Speaker of the House of Commons. His tomb in Ewelme Church bears the de Roet arms.’

The new identification makes a substantial difference to the value of the drawing. The National Portrait Gallery was thought to have been ready to buy the drawing for as much as a million pounds. It is now valued at about £3000. A representative of Matlock & Russell, the art dealers selling the drawing, said, ‘Our client is understandably disappointed and prefers to remain anonymous.’