The Truth Behind a Lady Jane Grey Portrait

Lady Jane Grey, who was known as the “nine-day queen,” was a sad figure in English history. In the end, she paid the price with her life because she was used as a political pawn in the power battles at the Tudor court. For hundreds of years, scholars have not been able to find a single Lady Jane Grey portrait painted during her lifetime. This has led to a lot of theory and artistic opinion about how she looked.

However, new research by English Heritage suggests that a long-overlooked Lady Jane Grey portrait may, in fact, depict this ill-fated queen. English Heritage, working alongside the Courtauld Institute of Art and dendrochronologist Ian Tyers, has uncovered what it describes as “compelling evidence” that a mysterious portrait was significantly altered after it was painted, possibly to represent Lady Jane Grey as a Protestant martyr.

Using infrared reflectography, researchers saw that the sitter’s outfit had been changed. Her sleeves, coif, and a white scarf had been added. The study also showed that the sitter’s eyes were changed. At first, they were looking to the right, but later they were turned to look to the left.

Further analysis showed that the sitter’s eyes, mouth, and ears had been deliberately scratched out, a form of iconoclastic attack often seen in depictions of controversial or fallen figures. A similar treatment is evident in another known image of Grey housed at the National Portrait Gallery. In addition, dendrochronological study of the wooden panel shows that it was made between 1539 and 1571, which is close to Lady Jane Grey’s life.

On the back of the panel, there is a trader or cargo mark that looks exactly like one on a royal picture of King Edward VI. This supports the idea that the painting originally showed a member of the Tudor royal family. Rachel Turnbull, senior collections restorer at English Heritage, said that new evidence shows the picture originally showed a more ornate outfit that was toned down to fit Grey’s image as a Protestant hero after his death.

If it turns out to be real, this painting of Lady Jane Grey would be a significant addition to the visual history of the woman, challenging the common idea that she was a helpless victim. Lady Jane Grey’s brief reign took place from July 10 to July 19, 1553. She was declared queen in an effort to block the ascension of her Catholic cousin, Mary Tudor. After only nine days, however, Mary successfully claimed the throne.

Jane went to the Tower of London to see the crowning, but instead she was locked up. At first, Mary I didn’t want to put her young cousin Jane to death, but in the end she decided she was too dangerous because Protestant groups wanted to use her as a symbol against Mary’s rule. Lady Jane Grey was put to death at the Tower of London on February 12, 1554. She was only 16 or 17 years old.

Read More: Portrait of Casual Photography

Many people still think that Grey was an innocent victim of Tudor politics. The famous picture by Paul Delaroche called “The Execution of Lady Jane Grey” supports this idea by showing her helpless and blinded in front of the executioner’s block. But this and other famous pictures of her were made a long time after she died.

The newly identified painting, which is now on loan from a private collection and will be shown at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire, might be a more accurate picture of Lady Jane Grey. This Lady Jane Grey portrait gives us a new look at a historical person who is often shrouded in myth and theory. Maybe the picture has something to do with her, but either way, it adds to the conversation about her life, her impact, and how history remembers its people.