The Murals

The following extracts are from:

Broomfield: An Illustrated History of the House and Garden - Steven Brindle, Southgate District Civic Trust, 1994

Enfield Council would like to thank Steven Brindle and the Trust for their co-operation in allowing this material to be used on the Enfield website.

Undoubtedly the finest feature of Broomfield's interior is the splendid staircase, inserted into the 16th century house early in the 18th century by the Jackson family, with the Baroque mural paintings by Gerard Lanscroon, dated 1726.

In handsome dark oak, with much intricate carving, the staircase has three different balusters to a tread, carved tread ends and a ramped handrail.

The Flemish artist Lanscroon was first heard of in 1678 when he was working as one of Antonio Verrio's assistants in the new state apartments at Windsor Castle; he also worked under Verrio at Hampton Court.

Lanscroon used his court connections to obtain several important commissions at various great houses.

These included Melbury House in Dorset (probably 1690s), Powis Castle in Wales for the Herbert family (1695), Burley-on-the-Hill in Rutland for the Earl of Nottingham (c.1708) and Drayton House in Northamptonshire for the Earl of Peterborough (1712).

Much closer to hand, in the mansion then known as Arnos Grove (now Southgate House in Cannon Hill) he executed a series of murals depicting the life of Julius Caesar. These are dated 1723 and were carried out for James Colebrook, another City merchant; this job may be connected with Lanscroon being commissioned by the Jackson family at Broomfield.

These are dated 1723 and were carried out for James Colebrook, another City merchant; this job may be connected with Lanscroon being commissioned by the Jackson family at Broomfield.

The Lanscroon Murals

The Broomfield murals depict about 50 figures in total. The ceiling, alas seriously damaged in the fire, has a central female figure holding a carpenter's plane; the plane may be a reference to the sources of the Jackson family's wealth. Over her head is a figure of Victory in a red robe and with a trumpet, with a cherub holding her helmet aloft.

 On the east wall (the right, as seen from the landing) is a panel showing Flora, goddess of flowers and of spring; Cupid fires an arrow at Zephyrus, the West Wind, making him fall in love with Flora. The three female figures seem to indicate the other seasons - Summer, Autumn and Winter. A river-god, or possibly Neptune, sits at the bottom left, perhaps in reference to the Jacksons' trading interests.

On the north wall (in the middle) is Mercury, messenger of the gods and protector of merchants, kneeling before Cupid, perhaps in homage to Cupid's mother Venus, who stands behind. Nearby is Venus's ugly, bearded husband Vulcan, the skilled craftsman. From the top right corner, Minerva (or Athena) surveys the scene. She was goddess of wisdom and plenty and on her shield is the head of Medusa, the gorgon.

On the west (left hand) wall, is a group of the Muses. On the south wall of the landing are two figures in a landscape. Their identity is not very clear; possibly this is Apollo, god of the arts but also of herdsmen, with Urania, the muse of astronomy, identified by her diadem of stars. Another possibility is that this is Bacchus and Ariadne. Bacchus found Ariadne wandering on the island of Naxos, where Theseus had abandoned her after his escape from Crete; Bacchus fell in love with the princess and turned her crown into a group of stars.

Following the fires the surviving parts of the murals were carefully taken down and placed in safe storage. Should restoration of the House be achieved, the Council will seek grant funding  for the restoration of the murals