Vortigern, King of Britain, enamoured with Rowena at the Banquet of Hengist, the Saxon General,...

Angelica Kauffman RA (Chur 1741 – Rome 1807). Oil painting on canvas, Vortigern, King of Britain enamoured of Rowena, at the banquet of Hengist, the Saxon General by Angelica Kauffman RA (Chur 1741 – Rome 1807), 1770. Rowena is kneeling in front, in the centre accepting the cup from Vortigern. Her father Hengist stands behind on the left. Soldiers sit a round a table on the right. The story of Rowena and Vortigern, taken from ancient legends, was recounted with some romantic license by Geoffrey of Monmouth (d.1155), acquiring added ‘authenticity’ by being included first in John Speed’s History of Great Britain…(1611), then in Paul Rapin de Thoyras’s History of England…, an elaborate illustrated folio edition published in 1742-47, which included a small engraved head piece illustrating the story of Rowena and Vortigern. It tells of how Vortigern, Prince of South East Britain, fell in love with Rowena, the Saxon Hengist's daughter, and hence betrayed the Britons to the Saxons. Saltram, Devon (Accredited Museum)