Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Painters otherwise Painter Stainers
In the thirteenth century the term "Painters" referred to those craftsmen who executed their work upon wood, wooden panels, metal and the like, while "Stainers" included those who stained or painted canvas and other cloth. The Painters' fraternity was already organised in 1283, as appears from Ordinances recorded in that year. Each of the two fraternities, or craft-guilds, appointed its own guardians or masters, two in number until 1502, in which year the two crafts presented a joint petition to the Lord Mayor of London for their union into one craft, and thereafter they became one Company, electing annually one Master, alternately chosen from the Painters and the Stainers. To become a Freeman then a Liveryman, one has to be examined and passed by the Master, Wardens and Court of Assistants to the Livery.