Biography of Maximilian Colt 1575-1641
Maximilian Colt 1575-1641 is in Sculptors.
Around 1575 Maximilian Colt was born at Arras. His name appears to have been originally 'Poultrain,' and in early life he is often described as 'Powtran or Poutraine, alias Colt.
After 1590. Monument to Robert Carr (age 79) at St Denys' Church, Sleaford [Map]. Possibly sculpted by Maximilian Colt (age 15).
On 04 Mar 1605 Maximilian Colt (age 30) signed an agreement with the lord treasurer, Sir Robert Cecil (age 41), to carve a monument above the grave of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland in the King Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey [Map] for 600l. The work was completed at the end of 1606.
On 23 Sep 1607 Princess Mary Stewart (deceased) was buried in the Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey [Map] opposite her sister Sophia's tomb in a private ceremony. Her effigy, created by Maximilian Colt (age 32), represented a young girl, clad in a mature dress, with the traditional ruff, carved in ivory.
On 17 Mar 1608 Maximilian Colt (age 33) was employed on a second monument in Westminster Abbey above the grave of the Princess Sophia, the infant child of King James I (age 41), who was born and died in the preceding June. Colt received 215l for this work.
On 28 Jul 1608 Maximilian Colt (age 33) was nominated the king's Master Carver.
On 03 Mar 1609 Maximilian Colt (age 34) was granted a suit of broadcloth and fur to be renewed annually for life.
In 1611 Maximilian Colt (age 36) carved 'a crown on the head of the Duke of York's (age 10) barge,' and in the following years he was employed in decorating the king's and queen's private barges. The last payment for this work was made on 14 Oct 1624.
On 24 May 1616 Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland (age 55) died at Brougham Castle [Map]. She was buried in St Lawrence's Church, Appleby-in-Westmoreland [Map]. Finely carved alabaster. Jacobean Hooded Monument, Shroud Monument, with Coronet. By Maximilian Colt (age 41).
On 11 Sep 1617 Anthony Mildmay (age 68) died. He was buried at the Church of St Leonard, Apethorpe [Map]. His inscription reads ... Here sleepeth in the Lord with certaine hope of resurection Sr Antony Mildmay Knt eldet sonne to Sr Walter Mildmay Knt Chaunclor of the Exchequor. to Queene Elizabeth. He was Embassador from Queen Eliza: to the most Christian King of Fraunce Henry the 4th Ano. 1596; He was to Prince and Country faithful, and serviceable, in peace and warre, to freinds constant to enemies reconciliable. Bountiful and loved hospitality. He died September 11 1617.
On 27 Jul 1620 Grace Sharington (age 68) died. She was buried at the Church of St Leonard, Apethorpe [Map]. The inscription of her monument reads ... Here also lyeth Grace Ladie Mildmay the only wife of the saied Sr Antho: Mildmay one of the heyres of Sr Henry Sharington Knt: of Lacock in the County of Wiltes who lived 50 years maried to him and three years a widow after him. she was most devout, unspotedly chast mayd, wife, and widow, compassionate in heart, and charitably helpful with phisick, cloathes, nourishment, or counsels to any in misery, She was most careful and wise in managing worldly estate. So as her life was a blessing to hirs, and hir death she blessed them which hapned July 27 1620.
From RCHME Inventory. It is of grey veined and black marble and is partly gilded and painted. Two effigies lie on a black and white marble tomb chest beneath a baldachino consisting of a shallow dome with a cupola having round-headed openings in its drum, which give light to the interior. The baldachino is supported at each end by a rectangular pier onto which curtains, hanging from the architrave of the dome, are looped. Against the piers are standing figures representing the four Virtues, and the frieze is inscribed 'Devoute', 'Wise', 'Charitable' and 'Just'; the frieze is also inscribed 'Chaste' and 'Valiant'. The head of the figure representing Justice is modern. Seated on the cornice are smaller figures, on the E. of Faith and on the W. of Hope; on the cupola dome is a seated figure of Charity. Crowning the cornice are freestanding cartouches of arms of Mildmay (N.E. and S.E.) and Sherington (N.W. and S.W.). Against the cupola drum are shields of arms of Mildmay impaling Sherington, both quartered with alliances, and Mildmay quarterly. The W. pier of the baldachino is inscribed with a record of the setting up of the monument by Sir Francis Fane (age 37) in 1621. The tomb chest is enriched with emblems of mortality and eulogistically-phrased inscriptions record the lives of Sir Anthony on the S., and of Lady Grace on the N. The effigies lie on rush mats, he in Greenwich armour, she in full mantle, ruff and head-dress. The authorship of the monument is not known but the figures of the four Virtues are in the manner of Maximillian Colt (age 42) (cf. Cecil monument, Hatfield, Hertfordshire); the baldachino may be compared with that over the tomb of the Countess of Derby at Harefield, Middlesex, probably also by Colt.
Grace Sharington: Around 1552 she was born to Henry Sharington of Lacock in Wiltshire and Anne Paggett of Lacock Abbey. In 1567 Anthony Mildmay and she were married. They lived at Apethorpe Hall, Northamptonshire. In 1581 Henry Sharington of Lacock in Wiltshire died. His two surviving daughters for many disputed his will. According to Grace Sharington her sister Olive Sharington had persuaded their father to change his will. Grace Sharington eventually gained an equal share.
In 1618 Maximilian Colt (age 43) had a house in Farringdon Within when his name appears in a list of foreigners then resident in London, together with that of John Colt, probably his son, who was also a sculptor and a native of Arras.
After 01 Oct 1618. Monument to Edward Carr 1st Baronet (deceased) at St Denys' Church, Sleaford [Map] sculpted by Maximilian Colt (age 43).
After 1622. Monument to George Savile 1st Baronet (age 72) at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map]. Possibly sculpted by Maximilian Colt (age 47).
On 03 Mar 1626 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 73) died. His son William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire (age 36) succeeded 2nd Earl Devonshire, 2nd Baron Cavendish Hardwick. Christian Bruce Countess Devonshire by marriage Countess Devonshire. On 12 Oct 1616 Henry Cavendish died. Both were buried at St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map].
The monument was behind the altar in the original church but moved to a separate chapel in the new church.
Monument formed two bodies under a low four-poster with black Ionic columns and black covering slab. The monument has been attributed to Maximilian Colt (age 51).
Extremely grand architecture above the two martial flanking figures, then arches with, on the left armour, and on the right purple, coronet, and sword hung up, and in the middle an angel holding the black inscription tablet and blowing a trumpet. The whole is surmounted by a big broken pediment.
Henry appears as a skeleton on a straw mat.
William in his shroud with his face exposed.
On 29 Mar 1629 Maximillian Colt's (age 54) daughter Abigail was buried, at the age of sixteen, in the St. Bartholomew's Church, and his wife, Susan, in 1646. He had another son named Alexander.
After 1641 Maximilian Colt (deceased) died.