A good servant, represented as a hybrid creature combining a man, a pig, an ass and a deer, carrying cleaning implements and having a padlocked mouth. Engraving after J. Hoskins.

A mural painting at Winchester College, known as "The trusty servant", devised by John Hoskins in 1579. "In our description of the college we had almost forgotten a painting, which is an object of notice to most persons who come to visit the place. On the wall of a room through which you pass to the kitchen, is delineated a strange figure, which we should be at a loss how to name, if Dr. Milner had not taught us to call it a Hircocervus. Perhaps an account of its composition will convey a clearer idea. The head has ass's ears and a swine's snout, upon which hangs a padlock; the feet are those of a deer. The rest of the figure is human. He stands erect, and holds up his right hand open. In his left he carries the implements of various service, viz. a brush, a prong, a currycomb, and something else. He is clothed in a full-dress livery coat, is girded with a sword, and on his left arm he bears a shield. The explanation of this heterogeneous asseınblage is given in the following verses on the wall beside him ... If the picture should not be useful in giving hints to servants for their proper conduct, it is at least amusing as an emblematical curiosity."--Combe, loc. cit.

Above, the coat of arms of Winchester College

Winchester : Published by Jas. Robins & D.E. Gilmour

1 print : engraving ; image 20.2 x 16.2 cm

The trusty servant. A trusty servant's portrait would you see, this emblematic figure well survey. ...

William Combe, The history of the colleges of Winchester, Eton, and Westminster, London: R. Ackermann, 1816, pp. 43-44

Wellcome Collection 29723i