The portrait sold for $120,000 on Sunday!
Dr Stephan Edwards has updated his website – Some Grey Matter
Art History News – Bendor Grosvenor and Adam Busiakiewic – Tudor Portrait Realises $120k
Antiques and the Arts Weekly – Early Portrait Of Elizabeth I Sells For $158,661 At Butterscotch
Dr Stephan Edwards contacted me to let me know that the description of the painting has been updated to include his analysis.
‘Portrait of an unknown lady (likely Queen Elizabeth I)
Oil on panel
No apparent signature, in a later carved and painted frame
h. 12-1/2 w. 9 in.
overall: 18-1/2 x 14-3/4 in. (frame)
The personage depicted in this portrait has been the subject of debate for some time. Over the years, it has been suggested by various curators, gallerists, and academics that the sitter is Lady Jane Grey, but the most modern consensus is that the sitter is either Queen Elizabeth I or Lady Katherine Grey. The portrait is discussed at length by Dr. John Stephan Edwards in his book, A Queen of a New Invention, Old John Publishing, Palm Springs (2015), pp.146-176.
Dr. Edwards has reviewed our images of the painting and now believes the sitter to be Queen Elizabeth I. He also dates the work to 1555-1563. A copy of his expert analysis of the current work, where he discusses its relationship to the Chawton and Gardner Soule portraits of Elizabeth I, accompany the lot.
We would like to thank Dr. John Stephan Edwards for his assistance in cataloguing this work.’
From – Butterscotch Auctioneers and Appraisers
Crown & Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II by Tracy Borman
‘This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle’
(William Shakespeare, Richard II)
The British monarchy is the one of the most iconic and enduring institutions in the world. It has weathered the storms of rebellion, revolution and war that brought many of Europe’s royal families to an abrupt and bloody end. Its unique survival owes much to the fact that, for all its ancient traditions and protocol, the royal family has proved remarkably responsive to change, evolving to reflect the times. But for much of its history, it also spearheaded seismic change, shaping our religious, political and cultural identity and establishing the British monarchy as the envy of the world.
There has never been a more apposite moment to consider the history of this extraordinary survivor. Within the next decade, there is likely to be a change of monarch, sparking renewed global interest on a scale not seen since Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. Even the media and popular frenzy evoked by recent royal events such as royal weddings and births will not compare to that generated by the accession of a new king. In the lead up to this pivotal moment in Britain’s history, Crown & Sceptre explores the history and evolution of the monarchy from 1066 to the present day, feeding the renewed interest not just in the modern royals but in the predecessors who helped shape the institution into what it is today.’
Further details – Hodder & Stoughton
Further details – Amazon.co.uk
Historian, Stephan Edwards (author of ‘A Queen of a New Invention: Portraits of Lady Jane Grey Dudley, England’s ‘Nine Days Queen’) has an update about the Berry Hill portrait on his website:
‘Delivered in bite-sized diary chunks, Jan-Marie Knights takes the reader on a journey into the world of Tudor high society. This is a world of love affairs, tragedy, marriage and death; the realm of flamboyant dress, opulent jewellery and burning passions. The Tudor period continues to enchant and mesmerise the world, and here the reader can delve into the social calendar of the era. Running the gamut of society occasions – from solemn marriages to sombre funerals, and decadent feasts to lavish large-scale gatherings – this is an essential book for any Tudor fan who wants to experience life as a wallflower in the Tudor court.’
Further details – Amberley Publishing
Further details – Amazon.co.uk
