King Henry VII (1457–1509) and Queen Elizabeth of York, Queen Consort (1466–1503)
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1512 - 1520
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
412 x 295 mm
Order this imageCollection
Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
NT 515569
Caption
Henry VII became the head of the house of Lancaster after the death of Henry VI in 1471, and on defeating the Yorkist Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, (the last battle in the Wars of the Roses) he became king. By marrying Elizabeth of York, the daughter of Edward IV, the Houses of York and Lancaster were finally united and the Tudor dynasty was established. In the various portrait types of Henry VII, he is invariably shown holding the red rose of Lancaster, while portraits of Elizabeth show her holding the white rose of York. According to a report on tree-ring dating of the panels, it has been established that this pair was painted between 1512-20, making them, along with the portrait of Henry VIII, datable to 1515-21, the oldest paintings in the house.
Summary
Oil painting on panel, King Henry VII (1457–1509) and Queen Elizabeth of York, Queen Consort (1466–1503), British (English) School, 1512/20. A diptych of bust-length portraits of Henry: bust to right, holding a rose in his right hand, hands resting on a ledge, grey eyes facing right, brown hair streaked with grey; wears a black bonnet; the background is a green brocade curtain and cusped arch, inscribed HENRICUS VII REX - this possibly added in the 18th century. Elizabeth - head and shoulders facing, to left with hands before her, the left holding a white rose, the right an orb; brown eyes turned to left; wears a black headdress with gold panels embroidered with jewels, red dress trimmed with ermine and gold; right hand resting on a fruit; plain brown background, inscribed across top. Inscribed 'Elizabeth Uxor Eius'. Label on frame 'Henry VIII 1457-1509, son of Edward Tudor, Earl of Richmond, and Margaret Beaufort, heiress of John of Gaunt. Killed III at Bosworth. Crowned 1485', 'Queen Elizabeth 1465-1503, Wife of Henry VIII, daughter of Edward IV, married 1486, crowned 1487'. According to a report on tree-ring dating, it has been established that this pair of portraits were painted between 1512-20, making them, with the portrait of Henry VIII, dated 1515-21, the oldest paintings in the house.
Provenance
Bequeathed to the National Trust by Huttleston Rogers Broughton, 1st Lord Fairhaven (1896-1966) with the house and the rest of the contents.
Credit line
Anglesey Abbey, The Fairhaven Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Elizabeth Uxor Eius
Makers and roles
British (English) School, publisher
References
Connoisseur, 1949, vol. CCXIII, no. 512, 1949, p.98 Millar, Oliver, 1923-2007 Tudor, Stuart and early Georgian pictures in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen / 1963., p.52: