Latest news with #LadyJaneGrey
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Portrait could shed new light on England's executed nine-day queen
She was Queen of England for just nine days before being executed at age 17, marking the shortest reign in British history. Now new research suggests a portrait that has gone on display in Britain could be the only image of Lady Jane Grey painted in her lifetime, according to conservation group English Heritage. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. The findings could shed new light on the story of the young queen, who reigned from July 10 to 19, 1553. The identity of the sitter in the image, which was painted by an unknown artist, has previously been subject to debate. English Heritage's senior collections conservator, Rachel Turnbull, said expert analysis carried out in conjunction with a dendrochronologist, Ian Tyers, and the Courtauld Institute of Art is not conclusive but provides a 'compelling argument' it could be the young queen. '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,' she said. Lady Jane was born in 1537, as the eldest daughter of Lady Frances and Henry Grey and was directly linked to King Henry VIII through her grandmother. She was named Queen of England following the death of Edward VI, who was the son of Henry VIII, in a bid to prevent the rise of her Catholic cousin, Mary Tudor, to the throne, according to English Heritage. She arrived at the Tower of London for her coronation but was soon taken as the prisoner of Mary I, who claimed the throne for herself. She was executed at the Tower of London on Feb. 12, 1554, at 17 years old, according to Britain's Historic Royal Palaces. One of the most famous images of Lady Jane is Paul Delaroche's 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey' which is in Britain's National Gallery. It shows her dressed in white and blindfolded in front of an execution block, while a man stands to her side with an ax; however, it was painted centuries after her death and exhibited in 1834. The newly analyzed painting has previously been part of the historical collection at Wrest Park country estate, where it went on display Friday. The 1830s property that contains an orangery and vast formal gardens has served as a filming location for Netflix shows 'Bridgerton' and 'The Crown.' The English Heritage research team found that dendrochronological analysis (a wood-dating technique) of the painted wooden panel suggests it dates to between 1539 and about 1571. The back also displays a mark identical to that used on a royal portrait of King Edward VI, the team said. Infrared reflectography shows the costume of the person painted was changed significantly after it was completed, researchers said, adding that this may have been done to obscure a more decorative outfit underneath and that it matches outfits worn by Lady Jane in other images. The linen cap on the sitter's hair has also been altered, as have the eyes, analysis shows. 'At some point in the painting's lifetime, the eyes, mouth and ears were also deliberately scratched out,' researchers said, in what they believe is likely to have been a religious or politically motivated attack. However, J. Stephan Edwards, an independent researcher specializing in Lady Jane and her portraiture, said that although the findings are interesting, 'I don't believe any of it is compelling evidence that the sitter could be Jane Grey.' He previously argued the sitter was Mary Neville Fiennes, Lady Dacre, in a 2013 article published in the British Art Journal. 'It is a discussion, and there are no definitive conclusions,' he said, but he believes his findings are 'more persuasive' than the 'supposed new evidence.' Edwards said the dendrochronological findings are 'noncontributory' to the debate, as he already believed the painting was done around the same time. While reflectography images show changes have been made, he did not think they were significant enough to 'change the identification of the sitter.' Furthermore, the lack of provenance and the simple pearl necklace worn by the sitter is an 'enormous red flag.' 'That total absence of jewels tells me that this is a woman who is not of the same social and economic status as Jane Grey,' Edwards said, adding that the notion that Lady Jane Grey dressed modestly is part of 'modern mythology.' English Heritage's curator at Wrest Park, Peter Moore, said the painting had been acquired by Anthony Grey, 11th Earl of Kent, in 1701 and was regarded as the 'defining image' of Lady Jane Grey until it was called into doubt following the British Art Journal article. 'It is thrilling to have this painting back at Wrest, and the new research provides tantalizing evidence which brings us much closer to the assertion that this could be Lady Jane Grey,' he said. Related Content DOGE wants them 'gone' but makes it hard for federal workers to move on NIH reels with fear, uncertainty about future of scientific research After Trump threats, Hong Kong firm to sell stake in Panama Canal ports
Washington Post
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Portrait could shed new light on England's executed nine-day queen
She was Queen of England for just nine days before being executed at age 17, marking the shortest reign in British history. Now new research suggests a portrait that has gone on display in Britain could be the only image of Lady Jane Grey painted in her lifetime, according to conservation group English Heritage. The findings could shed new light on the story of the young queen, who reigned from July 10 to 19, 1553. The identity of the sitter in the image, which was painted by an unknown artist, has previously been subject to debate. English Heritage's senior collections conservator, Rachel Turnbull, said expert analysis carried out in conjunction with a dendrochronologist, Ian Tyers, and the Courtauld Institute of Art is not conclusive but provides a 'compelling argument' it could be the young queen. '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,' she said. Lady Jane was born in 1537, as the eldest daughter of Lady Frances and Henry Grey and was directly linked to King Henry VIII through her grandmother. She was named Queen of England following the death of Edward VI, who was the son of Henry VIII, in a bid to prevent the rise of her Catholic cousin, Mary Tudor, to the throne, according to English Heritage. She arrived at the Tower of London for her coronation but was soon taken as the prisoner of Mary I, who claimed the throne for herself. She was executed at the Tower of London on Feb. 12, 1554, at 17 years old, according to Britain's Historic Royal Palaces. One of the most famous images of Lady Jane is Paul Delaroche's 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey' which is in Britain's National Gallery. It shows her dressed in white and blindfolded in front of an execution block, while a man stands to her side with an ax; however, it was painted centuries after her death and exhibited in 1834. The newly analyzed painting has previously been part of the historical collection at Wrest Park country estate, where it went on display Friday. The 1830s property that contains an orangery and vast formal gardens has served as a filming location for Netflix shows 'Bridgerton' and 'The Crown.' The English Heritage research team found that dendrochronological analysis (a wood-dating technique) of the painted wooden panel suggests it dates to between 1539 and about 1571. The back also displays a mark identical to that used on a royal portrait of King Edward VI, the team said. Infrared reflectography shows the costume of the person painted was changed significantly after it was completed, researchers said, adding that this may have been done to obscure a more decorative outfit underneath and that it matches outfits worn by Lady Jane in other images. The linen cap on the sitter's hair has also been altered, as have the eyes, analysis shows. 'At some point in the painting's lifetime, the eyes, mouth and ears were also deliberately scratched out,' researchers said, in what they believe is likely to have been a religious or politically motivated attack. However, J. Stephan Edwards, an independent researcher specializing in Lady Jane and her portraiture, said that although the findings are interesting, 'I don't believe any of it is compelling evidence that the sitter could be Jane Grey.' He previously argued the sitter was Mary Neville Fiennes, Lady Dacre, in a 2013 article published in the British Art Journal. 'It is a discussion, and there are no definitive conclusions,' he said, but he believes his findings are 'more persuasive' than the 'supposed new evidence.' Edwards said the dendrochronological findings are 'noncontributory' to the debate, as he already believed the painting was done around the same time. While reflectography images show changes have been made, he did not think they were significant enough to 'change the identification of the sitter.' Furthermore, the lack of provenance and the simple pearl necklace worn by the sitter is an 'enormous red flag.' 'That total absence of jewels tells me that this is a woman who is not of the same social and economic status as Jane Grey,' Edwards said, adding that the notion that Lady Jane Grey dressed modestly is part of 'modern mythology.' English Heritage's curator at Wrest Park, Peter Moore, said the painting had been acquired by Anthony Grey, 11th Earl of Kent, in 1701 and was regarded as the 'defining image' of Lady Jane Grey until it was called into doubt following the British Art Journal article. 'It is thrilling to have this painting back at Wrest, and the new research provides tantalizing evidence which brings us much closer to the assertion that this could be Lady Jane Grey,' he said.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 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.
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.'
