The Battles of St Albans

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Battle of St. Albans print by Graham Turner

On the 22nd May 1455, the struggle for control of the government of England boiled over into armed conflict in the first battle of what would become known as the Wars of the Roses. The following thirty years would see the throne itself become the prize for the rival Royal houses of Lancaster and York. Scroll down to read more...

Battle of St Albans, Wars of the Roses - Medieval Art print by Graham Turner

The Battle of St. Albans Ref: STA-38

Open Edition Print published from an oil painting.
Overall print size, including border - 30"x 24" (77cm x 60cm).

Each print is supplied with a 'Who's who', identifying the major participants and banners shown in the painting.

click on image to enlarge

For close up detail images of print, CLICK HERE

Price: £38.00

PRINT ON CANVAS

The Battle of St. Albans is also available reproduced on canvas - just like the original painting - CLICK HERE for details.

Battle of St Albans, Wars of the Roses - canvas print by Graham Turner

Battle of St Albans, Wars of the Roses - Medieval Greeting Card by Graham Turner

GREETING CARDS

Graham Turner's painting of the Battle of St Albans is also available as a Greeting Card - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

THE BATTLE OF ST. ALBANS by Graham Turner

When King Henry VI regained his sanity in January 1455, the Duke of York`s brief protectorate came to an end and his chief rival, the Duke of Somerset, regained his position of influence at court.

York withdrew to the north and began mustering men, supported by his brother in law, the Earl of Salisbury, and Salisbury`s son, Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick, later known as the `Kingmaker`.

Advancing towards London, the Yorkist force found the Royal army positioned in the small town of St. Albans. When negotiations for the Duke of Somerset's surrender broke down, York`s men stormed the town`s defences while Warwick broke into the market place through alleys and gardens, attacking the Lancastrian centre.

Graham Turner`s painting dramatically recreates the scene as Warwick's men, wearing their red liveries and badges of the Bear and Ragged Staff, advance through the medieval market place, while the 'Kingmaker', in the latest Milanese armour, raises his visor to greet the Duke of York. York, with his Standard bearer beside him, is indicating in the direction of the Castle Inn, site of Somerset`s last stand, and the Abbey towers over the proceedings as it still does today.

Other prints of the Battles of St Albans, from paintings by Graham Turner

Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset, print from a painting by Graham Turner

Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset Ref: KS5-19

Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset, with his standard bearer.

A staunch supporter of the Lancastrian King Henry VI, Somerset's rivalry with the Duke of York was one of the causes of the Wars of the Roses. Their struggle for power and control of the King would escalate into open warfare at the battle of St. Albans in 1455, where Beaufort would meet his death.

Graham Turner has depicted Somerset in an English armour based on the tomb effigy of his brother, the 1st Duke, who died in 1444. Edmund Beaufort was 49 years old at St. Albans, and a veteran of the war in France, so although this armour was probably slightly out of date by 1455, he could well have continued to wear the harness that had served him well and he was comfortable with.

Reproduced on good quality slightly textured paper from a gouache painting by Graham Turner (The paper is very similar in appearance to the watercolour paper the original was painted on).

Overall print size 13"x 19" (33cm x 48cm)

click on image to enlarge

Price: £19.00

Warwick's troops at the Battle of St. Albans, 1455 - print from a painting by Graham Turner

Concealed Attack Ref: Gic-G286

Soldiers in the Earl of Warwick's service advance through the back streets and alleys of St. Albans, to launch a surprise attack on Henry VI's forces in the market square during the Battle of St. Albans, 1455.

Giclée Print published from an original painting by Graham Turner.

Each print individually printed to order on very high quality heavyweight paper, and then signed on the border by the artist.

click on image to enlarge

Available in two alternative sizes - select size required below -

Approximate overall print size

17"x 25" (43cm x 63cm) £79.00

12"x 17" (30cm x 43cm) £59.00

Royal Blood - Print from a painting of Henry VI at the Battle of St. Albans, 1455, by Graham Turner

Royal Blood Ref: Gic-G362

As the Earl of Warwick's troops rain arrows down on them, and the Duke of York's men advance from the opposite direction, King Henry VI is 'hurte in the necke wythe an arrowe' as he finds himself exposed in the centre of the Yorkist assault at St. Albans.

Behind him the Duke of Buckingham is wounded 'with an arrowe in the vysage (face)', as were others of the king's entourage; 'the Lord of Stafford in the hond, with an arowe; the Lord of Dorsette, sore hurt that he myght not go, but he was caryede hom in a cart; and Wenlok, Knyght, in lyke wyse in a carte sore hurt; and other diverse knyghtes and squyers sore hurt.' (Paston Letters)

Although famously a most unwarlike king, Gregory's chronicle records that at St. Albans 'Kyng Harry was in harnys (full suit of armour) hys owne propyr person'. The same account also says that the Earl of Wiltshire 'sette the kyngys baner agayne an howse ende and fought manly with the helys (heels)' - in other words, he ran away, an action he would repeat at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross six years later.

Giclée Print published from a gouache painting by Graham Turner.

Each print individually printed to order on very high quality heavyweight paper, and then signed on the border by the artist.

Sizes given are approximate and include a border.

click on image to enlarge

Available in two alternative sizes - select size required below -
17"x 21" overall size has an image size of 12.5"x 16.4" (317mm x 417mm)
12"x 16" overall size has an image size of 9.5"x 12.5" (241mm x 317mm)

Approximate overall print size

17"x 21" (43cm x 54cm) £79.00

12"x 16" (30cm x 41cm) £59.00

The Second Battle of St. Albans - Print from a Painting by Graham Turner

The Second Battle of St. Albans Ref: Gic-G332
17th February 1461

Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, leads the Lancastrian army past St. Peter's church and out of St. Albans to attack the left wing of the Yorkist army, commanded by Lord Montagu, on Bernard's Heath.

Montagu's brother, Richard, Earl of Warwick - known to history as the 'Kingmaker' - was in overall command of the Yorkist army and had set up his formidable artillery defences to face north, the expected direction of attack, but this would prove a catastrophic mistake when the Lancastrians altered their approach to come through the centre of St. Albans and fall onto the Yorkist flank.

The battle lasted until the end of the day when Warwick's surviving forces managed to slip away from Nomansland Common in the gathering darkness.

However, the triumphant Lancastrian army was unable to consolidate their victory when they were denied entry into London, so they returned north, closely followed by Warwick and Edward, Earl of March - fresh from his victory at Mortimer's Cross and now proclaimed King Edward IV - to meet once again in combat at the decisive Battle of Towton.

Giclée Print published from a gouache painting by Graham Turner.

Each print individually printed to order on very high quality heavyweight paper, and then signed on the border by the artist.

Sizes given are approximate and include a border.

click on image to enlarge

Available in two alternative sizes - select size required below -
21"x 17" overall size has an image size of 17"x 12.5" (431mm x 317mm)
16"x 12" overall size has an image size of 12.9"x 9.5" (329mm x 241mm)

Approximate overall print size

21"x 17" (53cm x 43cm) £79.00

16"x 12" (41cm x 30cm) £59.00

Original Painting

Graham Turner's original painting THE SECOND BATTLE OF ST. ALBANS is available for sale - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

The Second Battle of St. Albans - Painting by Graham Turner

Disturbing the Peace, the 2nd Battle of St Albans - Medieval art print by Graham Turner

Disturbing the Peace Ref: Gic-G109

The 2nd Battle of St. Albans - 17th February 1461.

Giclée Print published from a gouache painting by Graham Turner.

Each print individually printed to order on very high quality heavyweight paper, and then signed on the border by the artist.

Sizes given are approximate and include a border.

click on image to enlarge

Scroll down to see larger cropped detail image.

Available in three alternative sizes - select size required below -

Print Size

15"x 28" (37cm x 71cm) £99.00

13"x 24" (33cm x 61cm) £79.00

10"x 19" (25cm x 48cm) £59.00

Disturbing the Peace - Canvas Print Ref: G109-LC

This painting is also available reproduced on good quality canvas, individually printed before being stretched on wooden stretcher bars - just like the original oil painting - and then varnished for protection.

Overall canvas size 12"x 28" (30cm x 71cm)

Note that canvas prints have no white border - this is the overall size of the canvas on its wooden stretcher bars and the image extends to the edge.

click on image to enlarge

Canvas orders going to an overseas address should email us at info@studio88.co.uk for a shipping price - our usual shipping rates do not apply.

Price: £149.00