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Tudor Double Portrait At National Portrait Gallery!

December 08 2008


The National Portrait Gallery has just bought a Tudor double family portrait of Mary Nevill, Lady Dacre and her son Gregory Fiennes, 10th Baron Dacre. Click on the link to see a big version of the painting.


	It was painted in 1559 by Hans Eworth. © The National Portrait Gallery, London


Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery describes it as a, 'remarkable depiction of matriarchal power.' This means that the lady in the picture, Mary Neville - or Lady Dacre (1524-1576) was a strong woman. Why? There's a clue in the painting... In Tudor times, the man was usually on the left in a portrait because he was thought of as more powerful.


However, Mary's on the left and her son, Gregory, is on the right in the Hans Eworth portrait. This shows that Mum is in charge!


Did you know that Lady Dacre and her husband, Lord Dacre were an important couple in Tudor times?


Lord Dacre had been on the jury for Anne Boleyn's trial in 1536 and Lady Dacre was one of the welcoming party for Anne of Cleves in 1540. Anne Boleyn was Henry VIII's second wife and Anne of Cleves was wife number 4.


But tragedy struck in 1541. Lord Dacre was executed after poaching deer and killing a gamekeeper. Here's a hunting scene from a famous Tudor carpet called the Bradford table carpet. See it in more detail and play games too at the V&A and National Archives' The Tudors. ©V&A


Mary Neville then lost her title of Lady Dacre and all her money. This was bad news for her family.


Mary didn't give up. She fought back and got an Act of Parliament to say that she could have money from her husband's estate. Next, Mary went to King Henry VIII. You can see him below.

Painting showing Henry VIII on a white horse and surrounded by courtiers carrying weapons. Henry is wearing rich red and gold robes. The horse's bridle is gold too.

Mary was such a good persuader that she got money straight away and her treasures back.

But she had to wait till 1558 to get her children's titles reinstated. That's 11 years after Henry died.


The Royal Collection has some more portraits of Henry VIII that are definitely worth a look.


And there are also many more incredible Tudor portraits at The National Portrait Gallery.


You can also click on the link for Tudor info and fab games! Show Me's Tudors topic page If you've drawn a Tudor picture or have a photo of yourself in Tudor costume, send it to us for our Show and Tell section!

By Rachel Hayward


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