Lady Jane Grey’s Lament

DESCRIPTION: Two engravings depicting the sad 9 day reign of Lady Jane Grey. Following the death of the young King Edward VI, a political plot orchestrated by prominent Protestant nobles—most notably John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland—aimed to prevent the Catholic Princess Mary from ascending the throne. The teenage Lady Jane Grey, a highly educated great-granddaughter of Henry VII, was chosen to succeed Edward…The first (upper) image depicts Lady Jane Grey's reluctance to accept the crown, a historical event from July 1553. When the council of lords approached her at Sion House to inform her that she was now Queen, she was famously overwhelmed with distress and wept, initially refusing to accept the massive responsibility and political danger of the crown. Here she stands looking hesitant and grief-stricken, turning slightly away from the crown. Beside her stands her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley. The Nobles: On the left, powerful figures of the realm kneel before her, presenting the official scroll and urging her to accept the sovereign rule. The Crown: In the lower centre, the crown sits on a velvet cushion on the floor, symbolizing both the ultimate power being offered to her and her reluctance to claim it. The second (lower) image reveals the famous 1833 painting ‘The Execution of Lady Jane Grey’ by French artist Paul Delaroche. Quickly deposed by Mary I (Bloody Mary), Lady Jane was executed for high treason in 1554 at age 16 or 17. The Central Scene: Jane Grey is shown blindfolded, dressed in white, being gently guided by Sir John Brydges (the Lieutenant of the Tower) toward the execution block. The Attendants: To the left, her ladies-in-waiting are overcome with grief. The Executioner: Standing to the right is the executioner, holding an axe and waiting quietly for the final moment. The original oil painting is housed in the National Gallery in London, where it remains one of the gallery's most popular works. STYLE: Engraving COLOUR: Monochrome SIZE (cm; mount board typically a few mm larger): 18.5 x 17 CREATORS: A H Payne after C R Leslie PUBLICATION: William Hickman Smith Aubrey's The National and Domestic History of England PUBLISHER: London: J Hagger DATE: C19 COMMENTS: Excellent condition with some patina from its antiquity SUBJECT: Works of Art; Events PACKAGE: Single one-sided sheet in acid-free mount, flat & unfolded inside hard-backed envelope. Royal Mail Tracked 24 included. Note: Images are provided for illustration purposes only and are intended to show the complete printed product, including any imperfections of age that may be present. Frames or props shown in the images are for display purposes only and are not included with your purchase.