William Laud (1573–1645), Bishop of Wells (1626–1628)

Image credit: The Bishop's Palace & Gardens

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

Laud was Bishop of London and briefly Bishop of Bath and Wells before becoming Archbishop of Canterbury. He was born at Reading, where his parents were clothiers. He was a capable man and the turbulent political and religious events which ended in Civil War and the execution of Charles I prevented him from achieving much for the Church of England. He had attempted to enforce liturgical uniformity by imposing a Book of Common Prayer and Anglican practice, but this provoked a strong Puritan reaction. He was impeached by the Long Parliament in 1640, imprisoned in the Tower of London tried and executed in 1645.

Laud's decree in 1635 said that communion rails should be constructed with upright pillars close together so "that the doggs may not gett in".

The Bishop's Palace & Gardens

Wells

Title

William Laud (1573–1645), Bishop of Wells (1626–1628)

Date

c.1636

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 125 x W 99 cm

Accession number

7

Acquisition method

possibly acquired, 1827–1829

Work type

Painting

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

Normally on display at

The Bishop's Palace & Gardens

Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue