Westminster Hall and the Medieval Kings Author:Malcolm Hay, Jacqueline Riding This is a study of six medieval royal statues from Westminster Hall, published to accompany a British Museum exhibition. Richard II's remodelling of Westminster Hall in the 1390's was a high point in royal patronage of the arts. Carved ornament and sculpture were a significant part of the new design, and 13 large stone statues of Richard's royal... more » predecessors were commissioned, some of which would stand at the south wall for the next 600 years. They served not only to embellish the architecture but also to affirm the king's royal status and presence in the greeting hall of his Westminster palace. The statues are amongst the finest examples of skilled medieval craftsmanship. Here the authors discuss the Hall and the history and conservation of six of them, and address the question of which English kings they represent.« less