Sir William Stone was Master 1606-07 and this full length portrait, the earliest original portrait we have in our collection, shows him standing, wearing black robes and hat, with a white ruff, and holding gloves in his right hand. His family coat of arms is depicted top left with the motto 'Fide Sed Cvi Vide', roughly translated as ‘Who is loyal but aware’.
Made free by servitude in 1580, William Stone was admitted to the Livery in 1587, elected Warden in 1600, Assistant in 1601 and Master in 1606. He was knighted in 1604 when King James I visited the home of his neighbour in Leyton, Essex.
Stone was a member of the Turkey Company, a body of merchants trading with the Levant. Other senior members of The Clothworkers’ Company were also involved with trade to the Levant and it is no doubt this connection that explains the ceremony held on the day of Stone’s election as Master on 4 August 1606, when the Freedom of the Company was bestowed on Mr Thomas Glover, Ambassador for Turkey. It could also explain the presence of the striking table carpet featured in the portrait.
The high point of Stone’s year as Master must have been the occasion on 12 June 1607 when King James I, feasting at the Mincing Lane house of the Clothworker Lord Mayor, Sir John Watts, was invited to become Free of The Clothworkers’ Company. His Highness ‘was pleased to repair unto the Common Hall of the said Company …, drink to the said Lord Mayor, Sir William Stone and the rest of the said Company … praying to God to bless all good Clothworkers and all good Clothwearers. Whereupon the said Lord Mayor, Sir William Stone and the rest of the Company in token of their great joy and thankfulness kissed His Majesty’s royal hands.’ and he was admitted into the Company.
Stone prepared his will on 13 September 1607 and died the next day aged 63. He was buried in St Mary Magdalen, Milk Street but the church and his tomb were destroyed in the Great Fire. His widow and two daughters married into the Campion family of Kent and it is from this family that the portrait was purchased at auction in 1984. Upon purchase it was cleaned and conserved, in particular to repair a large hole in the right hand edge which looked as if the picture had once been stood on the floor and a door opened against it, the handle puncturing the canvas!
Unfortunately the artist is not known but experts believe it to be of the English or Netherlandish School circa 1605. The frame is original (which is apparently quite unusual).
You can find the portrait hanging in the Reception Landing.