By Clarence Hargreaves-Sause
The sleepy Welsh town of Monmouth, birthplace of King Henry V, has been thrust into the spotlight this week following a sensational discovery that could rewrite art history. Local historians are abuzz with speculation after what appears to be a series of watercolour paintings, purportedly depicting scenes from the Battle of Agincourt and other key military campaigns of the 15th century, was found in a dusty cellar beneath the Monmouth Museum of Cheese.
The paintings, attributed (in pencil, on the back) to H5, are being heralded as “a revelation of unexpected delicacy and questionable historical plausibility.” Could it be that the warrior-king who once cried “Once more unto the breach!” was also quietly murmuring “Pass me the crimson alazarin”?
The Discovery
The artwork was unearthed during an ambitious effort to install a vending machine selling artisanal crisps in the museum’s basement. Maintenance worker Nigel Pumblethwaite, who made the discovery, described the moment:
“I was moving a crate of novelty keyrings shaped like longbows, and suddenly there they were—some old, scruffy paintings just sitting in a box marked ‘Ye Olde Miscellaneous.’ I knew straight away they were important, because they had that… you know, historical vibe.”
The alleged masterpieces were wrapped in what has been identified as an early example of a 19th-century tablecloth, leading experts to speculate that they were rediscovered—and promptly forgotten again—sometime during the Victorian era.
The Paintings
The collection consists of seven watercolours, each bearing a unique interpretation of Henry V’s famous military victories. Among the highlights:
• “Agincourt in the Rain” — A moody, grey-toned depiction of soldiers slogging through mud, with remarkably detailed puddles that hint at Henry’s possible obsession with “the English weather as metaphor.” Some art historians are already comparing this piece to Constable, though admittedly “Constable with terrible perspective.”
• “Siege of Harfleur, But Make It Cheerful” — A vibrant explosion of yellows and blues, with an inexplicable number of smiling faces. A curiously modern-looking dog sits in the foreground, wearing what might be a soldier’s helmet.
• “Portrait of a French Knight with a Sad Mustache” — This intimate close-up of an enemy combatant reveals Henry’s softer, empathetic side—or perhaps just his struggle to draw hands.
• “Battle Banquet Still Life” — An oddly serene painting of roasted pheasants, goblets of mead, and a lone, half-eaten custard tart. One expert theorizes this may reflect Henry’s post-battle priorities: food first, speeches later.
Each painting is signed with a cryptic “H5” in what could either be a signature or a very sloppy attempt at Roman numerals.
Could They Be Genuine?
The discovery has divided the art world. Dr. Felicity Gudgeon, a medieval art expert at the University of Littlehampton, is cautiously optimistic:
“It’s entirely plausible that Henry V could have dabbled in watercolours. After all, the court had significant downtime between battles. What better way to unwind than by painting your enemies in increasingly vibrant shades of vermilion?”
However, other scholars remain skeptical. Sir Trevor Snoddley-Wick of the Royal Society for Dubious Artefacts called the paintings “about as likely to be Henry V’s as my Aunt Mildred’s embroidery of the Spanish Armada.” He pointed to several “anachronistic flourishes,” such as the presence of a rainbow in one painting (not yet a prominent motif in medieval art) and what appears to be a soldier holding a baguette in “March to Agincourt.”
Public Reaction
The people of Monmouth have fully embraced the discovery, with the town council already commissioning banners reading “Monmouth: Where Kings Paint Too”. A Henry V-themed watercolour workshop has been announced, where locals can attempt to recreate “Agincourt in the Rain” using puddle water and locally-sourced pigments.
The discovery has also sparked heated debates on social media. “Henry V was too busy being a warrior-king to paint!!” one Twitter user exclaimed, while another countered, “You don’t know his life. Maybe he had a hobby, OK?”
What’s Next?
The paintings are set to undergo rigorous testing by experts to determine their authenticity. Carbon dating will be used to establish the age of the paper, while handwriting analysts will compare the “H5” signature to known examples of Henry’s writing.
Should the paintings be proven authentic, they would undoubtedly add a surprising new dimension to our understanding of the famous king—one less about martial glory and more about the importance of shading.
For now, though, the collection will remain on display at the Monmouth Museum, where it is already drawing crowds of curious onlookers. Whether genuine or not, the works remind us of one thing: even history’s fiercest warriors might have paused now and then to ask themselves, “What if I added a bit more zinc white here?”