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It has generally been supposed that the art of painting in oil w;
-         .    i   1 i -r  1 *V fl 1             I A~1fl tr._, - -  _
in modern times by John van EycK in me year 1,1IU, but it now         appears
from some manuscripts in the British Museum Library, that the ornamental
painting of St. Stephen's Chapel, Westminster, was commenced as early as
the year 1350. These splendid works were under the direction of Hugh de
St. Albans, who is called the Master of Painters, and authority was given
to
him, to take and choose as many painters and other workmen as might be
required for performing those works, in any place where it might seem
expedient, either within liberties or without, in the counties of Kent, Middle-
sex, Essex, Surrey, and Sussex; and to cause those workmen to labour at
the palace of Westminster, at the King's wages, as long as their services
might be thought necessary.
   In the reign of Edward the Third the decoration of apartments by a kind
of historical painting was so common that even bed-rooms were ornamented
in this manner.    Allusion is made to this custom   in the works of various
ancient authors, and in the poems of Chaucer.      But although improvements
were being made in the style of the dwellings of the barons and higher
classes, the great mass of the people were destitute of almost every comfort.
Some idea may be formed of the residences of those engaged in mer-
chandize (who are generally ranked higher and have more of the elegancies
of life than the other classes of the community), from the fact that in the
reign of Richard the First, and in the mayoralty of Fitzalwyn, the citizens
of London were ordered to cover their houses with slate, or "brent tile,"
instead of straw.
   A considerable portion of every building intended for a baronial mansion
must have been, as Mr. Whittaker, a celebrated antiquary, states, "taken
u]
by the apartments of such as were retained more immediately in the service
of the seignior; and the rest, which was more particularly his own habita
tion, consisted of one great and several little rooms.  In the great one
wa