Potential Portrait of Lady Jane Grey Unveiled Amid Northern Lights Forecast
New research identifies a mysterious portrait that may depict England's 'Nine Days Queen' alongside expectations of northern lights visibility in Scotland.
A recently uncovered portrait of a young woman, now on public display, is being assessed as a possible likeness of Lady Jane Grey, who reigned as Queen of England for merely nine days in July 1553. This research is spearheaded by English Heritage and involves advanced techniques such as dendrochronology and infra-red reflectography.
These methods have produced significant findings suggesting the painting could indeed depict Lady Jane prior to her execution in February 1554.
Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen in an attempt to forestall the ascension of her cousin, Mary Tudor, to the throne.
She was executed at the age of 17 on Tower Green at the Tower of London.
Existing well-known representations of Lady Jane, such as Paul Delaroche's painting, have all been created posthumously.
The analysis of the portrait's wooden panel, crafted from two Baltic oak boards from different trees, suggests that it was likely created between 1539 and circa 1571. A merchant or cargo mark found on the back of the panel matches one used on a royal portrait of King Edward VI, adding credence to the research findings.
Furthermore, alterations to the painting made in later years, possibly intended to present Lady Jane as a Protestant martyr, indicate its historical significance.
The portrait, on loan from a private collection, is currently displayed at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire alongside six other significant works.
Rachel Turnbull, a senior collections conservator at English Heritage, highlighted the collaborative effort with the Courtauld Institute of Art, emphasizing that while the exact identity of the woman in the portrait cannot be definitively confirmed, the research offers a compelling argument for its attribution to Lady Jane Grey.
Additionally, Dr. Philippa Gregory, a historical author, commented on the portrait's potential significance, framing it as an intriguing addition to the historical narrative surrounding Lady Jane Grey.
In a separate development, the Met Office has predicted that the northern lights may be visible in Scotland this weekend, with potential sightings extending to areas further south.
The aurora borealis is generated by electrically charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's atmosphere.
The Met Office reported that clear skies over northern Scotland could enhance the chances of witnessing this natural light display on Saturday night and continuing into Sunday morning.
Meteorologist Zoe Hutin indicated that low cloud coverage and enhanced solar activity contribute to a heightened likelihood of aurora sightings in the region.
According to the latest space weather forecasts, the overlap of fast solar winds with clear conditions makes for excellent viewing prospects.
High-latitude stargazers are advised that the aurora may be visible into Sunday night and Monday morning as solar winds continue to impact Earth’s atmosphere.
Last year, the northern lights were reported in unusual locations across the UK, attributed to increased solar activity during the peak of the sun's 11-year cycle.
These methods have produced significant findings suggesting the painting could indeed depict Lady Jane prior to her execution in February 1554.
Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen in an attempt to forestall the ascension of her cousin, Mary Tudor, to the throne.
She was executed at the age of 17 on Tower Green at the Tower of London.
Existing well-known representations of Lady Jane, such as Paul Delaroche's painting, have all been created posthumously.
The analysis of the portrait's wooden panel, crafted from two Baltic oak boards from different trees, suggests that it was likely created between 1539 and circa 1571. A merchant or cargo mark found on the back of the panel matches one used on a royal portrait of King Edward VI, adding credence to the research findings.
Furthermore, alterations to the painting made in later years, possibly intended to present Lady Jane as a Protestant martyr, indicate its historical significance.
The portrait, on loan from a private collection, is currently displayed at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire alongside six other significant works.
Rachel Turnbull, a senior collections conservator at English Heritage, highlighted the collaborative effort with the Courtauld Institute of Art, emphasizing that while the exact identity of the woman in the portrait cannot be definitively confirmed, the research offers a compelling argument for its attribution to Lady Jane Grey.
Additionally, Dr. Philippa Gregory, a historical author, commented on the portrait's potential significance, framing it as an intriguing addition to the historical narrative surrounding Lady Jane Grey.
In a separate development, the Met Office has predicted that the northern lights may be visible in Scotland this weekend, with potential sightings extending to areas further south.
The aurora borealis is generated by electrically charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's atmosphere.
The Met Office reported that clear skies over northern Scotland could enhance the chances of witnessing this natural light display on Saturday night and continuing into Sunday morning.
Meteorologist Zoe Hutin indicated that low cloud coverage and enhanced solar activity contribute to a heightened likelihood of aurora sightings in the region.
According to the latest space weather forecasts, the overlap of fast solar winds with clear conditions makes for excellent viewing prospects.
High-latitude stargazers are advised that the aurora may be visible into Sunday night and Monday morning as solar winds continue to impact Earth’s atmosphere.
Last year, the northern lights were reported in unusual locations across the UK, attributed to increased solar activity during the peak of the sun's 11-year cycle.
