Among the monuments in the Abbey belonging to this century I will mention—in addition to the Italian works already alluded to—the effigy of William de Valence, an oak figure plated with enamelled copper, the enamels on which are of magnificent workmanship; the beautiful bronze effigies of Henry III. and Queen Eleanor, with the marble altar-tomb of the latter, and its beautiful iron grille ([Fig. 114]); the pretty little altar-tomb of some of the royal children, and the gorgeous monuments to Edmund Earl of Lancaster, and Aveline, his countess: the latter have been among the most splendidly decorated works of their day, and are worthy of the very closest study, both by the architect and the architectural painter.
Centre compartment.
Fig. 113.—Retabulum, or moveable Reredos, formerly belonging to the High Altar, Westminster Abbey.
The paintings, except the merest fragments, have gone from the panels to the right of the centre compartment.
Fig. 114.—Part of wrought-iron grille, Queen Eleanor’s Tomb, Westminster Abbey.