Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, 'Protector Somerset' (1506? – 1552)
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1600
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
140 x 130 x 16 mm
Order this imageCollection
Ham House, Surrey
NT 1139921
Summary
Oil painting on panel, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, 'Protector Somerset' (1506? – 1552), British (English) School, circa 1600. A head-and-shoulders portrait of a man, turned slightly to the left, gazing at the spectator, short hair, long reddish beard and long drooping moustache, wearing a black cloak, with three tiered gold chain, hint of white lace ruff, and a black cap. The sitter was a soldier and statesman, known as ‘Protector Somerset’, eldest son of Sir John Seymour and brother of Jane Seymour. Successively created Viscount Beauchamp of Hache, 1536, 1st Earl of Hertford in 1537 and Baron Seymour and Duke of Somerset in 1547. He enjoyed high office under his brother-in-law, Henry VIII. He became Protector on the accession of Edward VI in 1547. Though a Protestant, he would not persecute the Roman Catholics and his first Book of Common Prayer was without the violence of the second, imposed after his collapse. Falling between Protestants and Catholics, he roused the violent opposition of the wealthy by his attempt to prevent their enclosure of the commons. He was sent to the Tower of London in 1549 and executed in 1552.
Provenance
Acquired in 1948 by HM Government when Sir Lyonel, 4th Bt (1854 – 1952) and Sir Cecil Tollemache, 5th Bt (1886 – 1969) presented Ham House to the National Trust, and entrusted to the care of the Victoria & Albert Museum, until 1990, when returned to the care of the National Trust, and to which ownership was transferred in 2002
Credit line
Ham House, The Dysart Collection (purchased by HM Government in 1948 and transferred to the National Trust in 2002)
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: in ink on three labels: 78; B / 2738; 8691
Makers and roles
British (English) School, artist
