Image: The portrait being studied (English Heritage)
New research suggests portrait could be the only painting of the ‘Nine Days Queen’ before her execution
After extensive research, Historic England says it has ‘compelling evidence’ that the subject of a historic portrait is the first – and potentially only – painted before her death.
The charity has used dendrochronology (the study of tree rings), XRF (high-energy X-rays) and infra-red reflectography to “conclude in favour” of confirming that the portrait depicts the ‘Nine Days Queen’.
On loan from a private collection, the portrait is on display from today at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire, alongside six others.
Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England for just nine days from 10 -19 July 1553. While she has been depicted in paintings, most notably the National Gallery’s ‘The Execution of Lady Jane Grey’ by Paul Delaroche, the few depictions of her were all painted after her death.
If confirmed, The English Heritage research – conducted with the Courtauld Institute of Art and Dendrochronologist Ian Tyers – would make the portrait the only known depiction to have been painted during her lifetime.
The research suggests that significant changes were applied to the painting in later years, pontentially to depict its sitter as a Protestant martyr.
Other evidence includes that the sitter’s costume has been significantly changed after the initial portrait was completed, having first resembled outfits worn by Lady Jane Grey seen in later depictions.
Rachel Turnbull, English Heritage’s Senior Collections Conservator, said: “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.”
The studied portrait goes on display alongside other historic paintings, returned to Wrest Park to go on display from today.
