![\"20131022_152824\"](\"https:\/\/ladyjanegrey.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/20131022_152824.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
‘This exhibition explores the story of the Elizabethans from the Queen, the nobility and gentry to many other talented individuals such as explorers, soldiers, merchants, artists and writers.’ (NPG website)<\/p>\n
‘The exhibition includes many outstanding paintings of Elizabeth I and her courtiers including explorers and soldiers, and enchanting portraits of her female attendants. Visitors will also come face-to-face with lesser-known Elizabethans including butchers, goldsmiths, brewers, merchants, writes and artists. These will be shown alongside artefacts from the period including exquisite jewellery, books and coins, which give a fascinating glimpse into their way of life.’ (NPG leaflet)<\/I> <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
My favourite item was the sweet box that either belonged to or was made for Robert Dudley to give away.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/a>(c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Sweet box either belonging to or given by Robert Dudley
\nDecorative sweet box
\nIron, damascened with gold & silver
\n1579<\/I><\/p>\n
You can read more about \u2018The Dudley Box\u2019 at the V&A website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Other highlights included:<\/p>\n Elizabeth I: The Ermine Portrait Two portraits on loan from Hardwick Hall.<\/p>\n (c) National Trust, Hardwick Hall<\/p><\/div>\n Bess of Hardwick (c) National Trust, Hardwick Hall<\/p><\/div>\n Hardwick Hall portrait of Queen Elizabeth (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London<\/p><\/div>\n Memento mori ring (death\u2019s head ring) According to Leanda de Lisle, Katherine (Jane\u2019s sister), wore this type of ring.<\/p>\n In \u2018The Sisters Who Would Be Queen\u2019 de Lisle writes that as Katherine Seymour lay dying, she asked Sir Owen Hopton to \u2018deliver a few tokens to her husband.\u2019 Amongst these tokens was a \u2018ring mounted with a death\u2019s head. Such rings, known as a memento mori, were intended as a reminder to the wearer of their mortality. \u2018This shall be the last token unto my Lord that I shall ever send him. It is a picture of myself\u2019, she said.\u2019<\/I> (p.269-270, de Lisle) <\/I><\/p>\n You can read more about the ring at the V&A website<\/a>.<\/p>\n A Fete at Bermondsey This painting has a view of the Tower of London in the background and you can buy a copy at the exhibition gift shop.<\/p>\n (c) Boughton House<\/p><\/div>\n Elizabeth Vernon (Countess of Southampton) In the background of this portrait on the table are dress pins. You can see the real thing in a display case near by.<\/p>\n William Cecil\u2019s tankard Embroidered panel with the Hardwick crest (a stag) with the initials ES John Day De Lisle describes how Jane\u2019s letters (to Thomas Harding and her sister, Katherine) and \u2018a description of Jane\u2019s conversation in the Tower with Feckenham\u2019<\/I> had been sent \u2018to an evangelical printer in Lincolnshire called John Day\u2019<\/I> and that \u2018Day\u2019s press was hidden on the estate of\u2026Sir William Cecil.\u2019 <\/I>(p.159, de Lisle)<\/p>\n Professor Eric Ives writes that, \u2018In 1554 there appeared ‘An Epistle of the Ladye Jane, a righte virtuous woman to a learned man of late falne from the truth’, conjecturally from the press of John Day, a prolific Protestant printer who in October 1554 was arrested on suspicion of publishing material hostile to the Marian regime.\u2019<\/I> (p.21, Ives)<\/p>\n What makes this exhibition come alive are the objects on display. You half expect Elizabeth and Robert Dudley to come down from their paintings and for him to offer her a sweet, for Cecil to climb off his mule and drink from his tankard, Bess of Hardwick to take up her embroidery and for Elizabeth Vernon take the pins from the display case and finish dressing. <\/p>\n * All italic item text is (c) National Portrait Gallery.<\/p>\n The exhibition runs until 5 January 2014.<\/p>\n You can buy tickets from the National Portrait Gallery website:<\/p>\n National Portrait Gallery – Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n Sources<\/u><\/p>\n Elizabeth I & Her People – National Portrait Gallery<\/a><\/p>\n V&A website – The Dudley Box<\/a><\/p>\n V&A website – Ring<\/a>.<\/p>\n Boughton House<\/a><\/p>\n BBC – Your Paintings<\/a><\/p>\n BBC – Your Paintings<\/a><\/p>\n Elizabeth I & Her People Leaflet – National Portrait Gallery<\/p>\n Ives, E. (2009) Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery, Wiley-Blackwell.<\/p>\n De Lisle, L. (2010) The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: The Tragedy of Mary, Katherine and Lady Jane Grey, HarperPress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The ‘Elizabeth I & Her People’ exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery is a must see. Not only are there wonderful portraits on display but there also some very interesting objects as well. ‘This exhibition explores the story of the … Continue reading
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nNicholas Hilliard
\n1585<\/I><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/a>
<\/p>\n
\nFollower of Hans Eworth
\n1560<\/I><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/a>
<\/p>\n
\nUnknown artist
\n1598-9<\/I><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/a>
\t<\/p>\n
\n1550-1600
\nGold, enamel
\nInscribed at front of bezel + BE HOLD THE ENDE
\nAround the edge of bezel RATHER DEATH THAN FAILS FAYTH<\/I><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nJoris Hoefnagel
\n1568-70<\/I>\t<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/a>
<\/p>\n
\nc1600
\nUnknown artist<\/I><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nc1575
\nSilver-gilt, enamel & glass<\/I><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n1559-64\/5<\/I><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nUnknown artist
\n1562
\nWoodcut<\/I><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n