Tag: Mary I

Artists of Northern Europe, Flemish primitives, Illuminated manuscripts, Original Documents, Portraiture, Renaissance, Royal Portraits, Tudor portraiture

The difficulty identifying 16th portraits of ‘Unknown Ladies & Gentlemen’

Melanie V Taylor

Jacob Burkhardt revolutionized art and cultural history in the 19th century, emphasizing the importance of art in understanding societal contexts. Misattributions and unknown subjects in historical portraits persist, complicating scholarship. Modern technology aids in analysis, yet many identities remain elusive, highlighting the depth of art history beyond mere aesthetics.

Artists of Northern Europe, Illuminated manuscripts, Renaissance, The Hapsburgs

Of Parrots, kings and other things!

Melanie V Taylor

Parrots emerged as symbols of status in Europe after Alexander the Great brought them from India. Initially viewed as divine for their speech, their trade was primarily controlled by Arab merchants. Subsequent explorations expanded knowledge of various parrot species, including those from the New World, which became prized possessions among the elite.

Artists of Northern Europe, Original Documents, portrait miniature, Portraiture, Renaissance, Royal Portraits, Tudor portraiture

How we know the Tudor Royals from 1485 – 1558; and who painted them.

Melanie V Taylor

Articles in various publications have looked at Franny Moyle’s suggestion that Holbein left clues regarding the identification of one of his sitters of his miniatures being of Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anna, Duchess of Cleves and not Katherine Howard as suggested by George Vertue writing in the 18th century. The recent article about Moyle’s theory… Continue reading How we know the Tudor Royals from 1485 – 1558; and who painted them.