An Unknown Lady, called 'Anne Ayscough/Askew, Mrs Thomas Kyme (1521-1546)'
Hans Eworth (Antwerp c.1525 – ?London after 1578)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1560 (initialled and dated)
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
660 x 508 mm (26 x 20 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Tatton Park, Cheshire
NT 1298241
Summary
Oil painting on panel, An Unknown Lady, called 'Anne Ayscough/Askew, Mrs Thomas Kyme (c.1521 -1546)' by Hans Eworth (Antwerp c.1525 - London after 1578), initialled and dated: HE 1560 (HE in ligature) and inscribed: RATHER DEATHE/THEN FALSE OF FAYTHE. A half-length portrait of a woman, in black with white ruff and cuffs, and with hands clasped. Despite the sitter being incorrectly labelled as Queen Mary (of Scots) on the picture frame the painting possibly represents Anne Ayscough/Askew, the first Protestant martyr who was burnt at the stake as a heretic in 1546 for refusing to acknowledge that the Sacrament was the 'flesh, blood and bone' of Christ.
Provenance
Reginald Cholmondeley collection & sale, Christie's 6 March 1897, lot 43: bought by M. Colnaghi (? for Lord Egerton) ; bequeathed by Maurice Egerton, 4th Baron Egerton of Tatton (1874 - 1958) to the National Trust with the house, gardens and contents of Tatton Park
Marks and inscriptions
Rather Deathe Than False of Faythe (inscription on canvas)
Makers and roles
Hans Eworth (Antwerp c.1525 – ?London after 1578), artist