Johanna St John (1631-1705), wife of Sir Walter St John, 3rd Bt. by Godfrey Kneller

This portrait of Johanna St.John set against a classical backdrop is perhaps how history best remembers her – stern and serious.

Johanna was a knowledgeable gardener and herbalist and has left a unique record of her work. Johanna used plants from the formal gardens at Lydiard, formerly located at the front of the medieval manor house and stretching down to the lake, sourcing the more exotic ingredients such as unicorn horn and bezoar stones from elsewhere.

Lady Johanna’s Recipe Book dated 1680 is a rare survivor of a 17th century collection of herbal remedies and is held in The Wellcome Library in London. In her will Johanna bequeaths “my great Receit Book” to her daughter [Anne] Cholmondeley.

Medium - oil on canvas

Measurements - H 124 x W 101 cm

On loan from Sir Walter St John Educational Trust since 1967