Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), aged 42
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1585 (after)
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
629 x 775 mm (24 3/4 x 30 1/2in)
Place of origin
Great Britain
Order this imageCollection
Montacute House, Somerset
NT 597950
Summary
Oil painting on panel, Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), aged 42, British (English) School, after an original miniature by Nicholas Hilliard (Exeter c.1547 – London 1619) of 1585. Inscribed: '1585 Aet -42'. This is a half-length version of the whole-length portrait of which there is a version at Hardwick (the “Sheffield type” - so called from having been created using the likeness believed to have been taken in a miniature, when the Queen was in the custody of the Earl of Shrewsbury at his castle in Sheffield by Nicholas Hilliard, probably 1578.) Portrait of Mary as a young woman, half-length turned slightly to left, gazing at spectator, dressed in black with high lace collar over lace ruff, lace cap, gold crucifix on a black ribbon with a pendant pearl, her hands crossed in front, index finger of right hand over left hand.
Provenance
Bought by Sir Malcolm Stewart. Bequest of Sir Percy Malcolm Stewart (1871-1951) to the National Trust in 1951 (transferred to Montacute House, 1960 after the death of Lady Stewart)
Credit line
Montacute House, The Malcolm Stewart Bequest (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Recto: Inscribed top right: 1585 Recto: Inscribed top, left: AET - 42
Makers and roles
British (English) School, publisher after Nicholas Hilliard (Exeter c.1547 – London 1619), publisher
References
Montacute House, Somerset, 1976 [The National Trust; Dudley Dodd] 1976, "THE DINING ROOM Paintings and Tapestry South Wall, (left to right) Portrait of Mary Queen of Scots (1542-87), English, inscribed 1585. Wife of Francois II, King of France (d.1560), of Henry Stuyart, Lord Darnley (d.1567) and James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell (d.1578). Courted by the Earl of Leicester in 1564." Montacute House, Somerset, 1986 [The National Trust; Dudley Dodd] 1979, revised 1986 , p.10. "The Dining Room. On the north wall are portraits of Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester and Mary Queen of Scots." Montacute House, Somerset, 1986-1987 [The National Trust; Dudley Dodd] 1979, revised 1986 reprinted 1987 , p.10. "The Dining Room. On the north wall are portraits of Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester and Mary Queen of Scots." Montacute House, Somerset, 1991 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, p.53 "THE DINING ROOM PAINTINGS Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) Inscribed with the date 1585 and age 42, but almost certainly deriving from a miniature by Nicholas Hilliard probably of 1578. The Queen had been a prisoner of Elizabeth I for ten years when the original mioniature was painted. Unknown artist, probably after Nicholas Hilliard (1547/8-1618/19), 1578." Montacute House, Somerset, 1997 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, revised 1997 , p.53 "THE DINING ROOM PAINTINGS Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) Inscribed with the date 1585 and age 42, but almost certainly deriving from a miniature by Nicholas Hilliard probably of 1578. The Queen had been a prisoner of Elizabeth I for ten years when the original mioniature was painted. Unknown artist, probably after Nicholas Hilliard (1547/8-1618/19), 1578." Montacute House, Somerset, 2004-2006 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 2000, revised 2004, reprinted 2005, 2006, p.41 "THE DINING ROOM PAINTINGS Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) Inscribed with the date 1585 and age 42, but almost certainly deriving from a miniature by Nicholas Hilliard probably of 1578. The Queen had been a prisoner of Elizabeth I for ten years when the original mioniature was painted. Unknown artist, probably after Nicholas Hilliard (1547/8-1618/19), 1578."