Grace, Lady Parker

This colour printed stipple engraving is based on one of 84 original portrait drawings in the Royal Collection, Windsor Castle, by the great 16th century Anglo-German court artist Hans Holbein, whose status has remained high over the centuries. In turn, its engraver, Francesco Bartolozzi, was technically unrivalled in later 18th century Britain and was a foundation member of the Royal Academy. The original edition was published by John Chamberlaine, London, in 1793.

This portrait probably shows the young Grace (1515-by 1549), daughter of Sir John Newport, who married Sir Henry Parker in 1523 when she was eight years old. Grace may have been one of Jane Seymour’s ladies, and in 1537 attended both the christening of Prince Edward (later Edward VI) and the funeral of the Queen shortly afterwards. She is shown wearing the rounded ‘French hood’ popularised by Anne Boleyn and a high-collared dress. Such costume was fashionable in the 1540s, and the portrait can therefore probably be dated towards the end of Holbein’s life. Unusually for Holbein, Grace confronts the viewer with a steady gaze rather than facing to left or right.

See: https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/912230/grace-lady-parker-1515-by-1549

Dr Mark Stocker    Curator, Historical International Art            February 2017