Latest news with #TheExecutionofLady
South China Morning Post
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Is this the only portrait of Lady Jane Grey, England's 9-day queen, done during her life?
A painting that has gone on public display in Britain could be the only portrait of England's shortest-reigning queen, Lady Jane Grey, painted during her lifetime, according to the conservation group English Heritage. Advertisement It said there is 'compelling' evidence to suggest that the portrait, on loan from a private collection, shows Jane, who was no older than 17 when she became queen for just nine days in the summer of 1553. One of England's most tragic regal figures, she was executed at the Tower of London in 1554. Jane was a devout Protestant at a time of religious upheaval, the ultimate innocent victim of the deception of the Tudor court in the chaotic aftermath of Henry VIII's reign. She is perhaps best-known from Paul Delaroche's painting, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, which hangs in the National Gallery in central London . Jane, who may have been as young as 16, is shown blindfolded as an executioner with an axe waits to behead her. But that painting, like the few others that purport to show Jane, all date from after her death. Advertisement Now English Heritage says a Tudor-era work could be a 'live' painting of Jane. The portrait, along with six others, will hang at Wrest Park, a country estate west of London managed by English Heritage which incidentally is the location of many scenes in Netflix's steamy period drama series Bridgerton.
Chicago Tribune
09-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
This portrait may be the only one of England's 9-day queen painted during her lifetime
LONDON (AP) — A painting that has gone on public display Friday could be the only portrait of England's shortest-reigning queen, Lady Jane Grey, painted during her lifetime, according to the conservation group English Heritage. It said there is 'compelling' evidence to suggest that the portrait, on loan from a private collection, shows Jane, who was no older than 17 when she became queen for just nine days in the summer of 1553. One of England's most tragic regal figures, she was executed at the Tower of London in 1554. Jane was a devout Protestant at a time of religious upheaval, the ultimate innocent victim of the chicanery of the Tudor court in the chaotic aftermath of Henry VIII's reign. She is perhaps best-known from Paul Delaroche's painting, 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey,' which hangs in the National Gallery in central London. Jane, who may have been as young as 16, is shown blindfolded as an executioner with an axe waits to behead her. But that painting, like the few others that purport to show Jane, all date from after her death. Now, English Heritage says a Tudor-era work could be a 'live' painting of Jane. The portrait, along with six others, will hang at Wrest Park, a country estate west of London managed by English Heritage, and which incidentally is the location of many scenes of Netflix's steamy period drama 'Bridgerton.' The charity worked with the Courtauld Institute of Art and scientist Ian Tyers, who specializes in dendrochronology, or the dating of tree rings. It said there is enough evidence to raise the question: 'Could this mysterious portrait be Lady Jane Grey?' Among the evidence presented, English Heritage said the tree-dating points to the wooden panel having been constructed between 1539 and around 1571 — Jane is believed to have been born in 1536 or 1537 and was executed in early 1554. It also said the back of the panel displays a merchant or cargo mark, identical to one used on a royal portrait of King Edward VI, who, in an ultimately tragic turn, anointed his first cousin once removed as his successor. It also noted a 'striking change' in the eyes of the sitter to the left rather than the right and that at some point, the eyes, mouth and ears were deliberately scratched out. In addition, it said the sitter was likely wearing a more elaborate costume. Rachel Turnbull, English Heritage's Senior Collections Conservator, said the evidence points to the possibility that 'we are looking at the shadows of a once more royal portrait of Lady Jane Grey, toned down into subdued, Protestant martyrdom after her death.' Jane was bright, reportedly spoke multiple languages and a big fan of Plato. But it was her commitment to Protestantism that interested Edward VI. Edward VI, the only surviving son of Henry VIII, was the first monarch to be raised a Protestant after his father split from Rome in order to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon. His mother was Henry's third wife, Jane Seymour, who Lady Jane was named after. On being informed in 1553 that he was terminally ill, the 15-year-old Edward wanted to bypass his older sisters Mary and Elizabeth, and named Lady Jane his heir to prevent the realm reverting to Catholicism. On July 10, Jane became queen but was deposed nine days later after her support melted away in the wake of an uprising by Mary's supporters. Jane was subsequently convicted of treason and sentenced to death.
The Independent
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
This portrait may be the only one of England's 9-day queen painted during her lifetime
A painting that has gone on public display Friday could be the only portrait of England 's shortest-reigning queen, Lady Jane Grey, painted during her lifetime, according to the conservation group English Heritage. It said there is 'compelling' evidence to suggest that the portrait, on loan from a private collection, shows Jane, who was no older than 17 when she became queen for just nine days in the summer of 1553. One of England's most tragic regal figures, she was executed at the Tower of London in 1554. Jane was a devout Protestant at a time of religious upheaval, the ultimate innocent victim of the chicanery of the Tudor court in the chaotic aftermath of Henry VIII's reign. She is perhaps best-known from Paul Delaroche's painting, 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey,' which hangs in the National Gallery in central London. Jane, who may have been as young as 16, is shown blindfolded as an executioner with an axe waits to behead her. But that painting, like the few others that purport to show Jane, all date from after her death. Now, English Heritage says a Tudor-era work could be a 'live' painting of Jane. The portrait, along with six others, will hang at Wrest Park, a country estate west of London managed by English Heritage, and which incidentally is the location of many scenes of Netflix's steamy period drama "Bridgerton." The charity worked with the Courtauld Institute of Art and scientist Ian Tyers, who specializes in dendrochronology, or the dating of tree rings. It said there is enough evidence to raise the question: "Could this mysterious portrait be Lady Jane Grey?" Among the evidence presented, English Heritage said the tree-dating points to the wooden panel having been constructed between 1539 and around 1571 — Jane is believed to have been born in 1536 or 1537 and was executed in early 1554. It also said the back of the panel displays a merchant or cargo mark, identical to one used on a royal portrait of King Edward VI, who, in an ultimately tragic turn, anointed his first cousin once removed as his successor. It also noted a 'striking change" in the eyes of the sitter to the left rather than the right and that at some point, the eyes, mouth and ears were deliberately scratched out. In addition, it said the sitter was likely wearing a more elaborate costume. Rachel Turnbull, English Heritage's Senior Collections Conservator, said the evidence points to the possibility that 'we are looking at the shadows of a once more royal portrait of Lady Jane Grey, toned down into subdued, Protestant martyrdom after her death.' Jane was bright, reportedly spoke multiple languages and a big fan of Plato. But it was her commitment to Protestantism that interested Edward VI. Edward VI, the only surviving son of Henry VIII, was the first monarch to be raised a Protestant after his father split from Rome in order to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon. His mother was Henry's third wife, Jane Seymour, who Lady Jane was named after. On being informed in 1553 that he was terminally ill, the 15-year-old Edward wanted to bypass his older sisters Mary and Elizabeth, and named Lady Jane his heir to prevent the realm reverting to Catholicism. On July 10, Jane became queen but was deposed nine days later after her support melted away in the wake of an uprising by Mary's supporters. Jane was subsequently convicted of treason and sentenced to death.
Associated Press
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
This portrait may be the only one of England's 9-day queen painted during her lifetime
LONDON (AP) — A painting that has gone on public display Friday could be the only portrait of England's shortest-reigning queen, Lady Jane Grey, painted during her lifetime, according to the conservation group English Heritage. It said there is 'compelling' evidence to suggest that the portrait, on loan from a private collection, shows Jane, who was no older than 17 when she became queen for just nine days in the summer of 1553. One of England's most tragic regal figures, she was executed at the Tower of London in 1554. Jane was a devout Protestant at a time of religious upheaval, the ultimate innocent victim of the chicanery of the Tudor court in the chaotic aftermath of Henry VIII's reign. She is perhaps best-known from Paul Delaroche's painting, 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey,' which hangs in the National Gallery in central London. Jane, who may have been as young as 16, is shown blindfolded as an executioner with an axe waits to behead her. But that painting, like the few others that purport to show Jane, all date from after her death. Now, English Heritage says a Tudor-era work could be a 'live' painting of Jane. The portrait, along with six others, will hang at Wrest Park, a country estate west of London managed by English Heritage, and which incidentally is the location of many scenes of Netflix's steamy period drama 'Bridgerton.' The charity worked with the Courtauld Institute of Art and scientist Ian Tyers, who specializes in dendrochronology, or the dating of tree rings. It said there is enough evidence to raise the question: 'Could this mysterious portrait be Lady Jane Grey?' Among the evidence presented, English Heritage said the tree-dating points to the wooden panel having been constructed between 1539 and around 1571 — Jane is believed to have been born in 1536 or 1537 and was executed in early 1554. It also said the back of the panel displays a merchant or cargo mark, identical to one used on a royal portrait of King Edward VI, who, in an ultimately tragic turn, anointed his first cousin once removed as his successor. It also noted a 'striking change' in the eyes of the sitter to the left rather than the right and that at some point, the eyes, mouth and ears were deliberately scratched out. In addition, it said the sitter was likely wearing a more elaborate costume. Rachel Turnbull, English Heritage's Senior Collections Conservator, said the evidence points to the possibility that 'we are looking at the shadows of a once more royal portrait of Lady Jane Grey, toned down into subdued, Protestant martyrdom after her death.' Jane was bright, reportedly spoke multiple languages and a big fan of Plato. But it was her commitment to Protestantism that interested Edward VI. Edward VI, the only surviving son of Henry VIII, was the first monarch to be raised a Protestant after his father split from Rome in order to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon. His mother was Henry's third wife, Jane Seymour, who Lady Jane was named after. On being informed in 1553 that he was terminally ill, the 15-year-old Edward wanted to bypass his older sisters Mary and Elizabeth, and named Lady Jane his heir to prevent the realm reverting to Catholicism. On July 10, Jane became queen but was deposed nine days later after her support melted away in the wake of an uprising by Mary's supporters. Jane was subsequently convicted of treason and sentenced to death.
The Independent
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Mysterious portrait could be of ‘Nine Days Queen' Lady Jane Grey
A mysterious portrait of a woman now on public display could be the only painting of Lady Jane Grey before she was executed, according to research. Lady Jane was Queen of England for just nine days, from July 10 to July 19 1553, and was proclaimed Queen as part of an unsuccessful bid to prevent the accession of her Catholic cousin, Mary Tudor. English Heritage said research including dendrochronology (tree ring dating) and infra-red reflectography, has provided 'compelling evidence' in favour of confirming that the portrait depicts Lady Jane. Existing depictions and the few known representations of Lady Jane – including The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, a painting by Paul Delaroche – are all known to have been painted after her death. Lady Jane was executed on Tower Green at the Tower of London on February 12 1554 at the age of 17. English Heritage said analysis of the panel upon which the woman is painted – comprised of two Baltic oak boards from two different trees – suggests a likely usage date for the panel between 1539 and circa 1571. The back of the panel displays a merchant or cargo mark, identical to a mark used on a royal portrait of King Edward VI. Analysis also shows significant changes were applied to the painting in later years, perhaps to depict Lady Jane as a Protestant martyr. The portrait, on loan from a private collection, is on display at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire, alongside six other paintings. Rachel Turnbull, English Heritage's senior collections conservator, said: 'Working alongside the Courtauld Institute of Art, and Dendrochronologist Ian Tyers, English Heritage has undertaken remarkable research in an effort to determine the identity of this portrait. 'While we can't confirm that this is definitely Lady Jane Grey, our results certainly make a compelling argument! 'From the newly discovered evidence of a once perhaps more elaborate costume and the dating of the wooden panel from within her lifetime, to the deliberate scratching of her eyes, it is possible that we are looking at the shadows of a once more royal portrait of Lady Jane Grey, toned down into subdued, Protestant martyrdom after her death. 'Regardless of her identity, the results of our research have been fascinating.' Historical author Dr Philippa Gregory said: 'This is such an interesting picture posing so many questions, and if this is Jane Grey, a valuable addition to the portraiture of this young heroine, as a woman of character – a powerful challenge to the traditional representation of her as a blindfolded victim.'
