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