Portrait of King Edward VI, 18th century, after Federico Zuccaro or William Scrots.

Oil on canvas in a 19th century giltwood frame.
This portrait of the young king was painted in the 18th century after a 16th century original.
Edward wears the hugely costly clothing one would expect a Tudor monarch to wear; across his chest hangs the Greater George, emblem of the Order of the Garter which is the most senior and the oldest British Order of Chivalry and was founded by Edward III in 1348.

The Order, consisting of the King and twenty-five knights, honours those who have held public office, who have contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally.
The patron saint of the Order is St George (patron saint of soldiers).

EDWARD VI was born on 12 October 1537 at Hampton Court Palace, the only legitimate son of Henry VIII. Henry's desperation for a son had led him to divorce two wives, but Edward's mother, Henry's third wife Jane Seymour, died a few days after his birth. Edward was given a rigorous education and was intellectually precocious, although his health was never strong.

Edward became king at the age of nine, when his father died in January 1547. His father had arranged that a council of regency should rule on his behalf, but Edward's uncle, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, took power and established himself as protector. Somerset and the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, were intent on making England a truly Protestant state, supported by the young king. An English Prayer Book was issued in 1549 with an Act of Uniformity to enforce it.

In the summer of 1549, peasants in the West Country revolted in protest against the Prayer Book. Kett's Rebellion in Norfolk was focused on economic and social injustices. At the same time, the French declared war on England. The Norfolk rebellion was suppressed by John Dudley, Earl of Warwick. In the atmosphere of uncertainty, Dudley exploited his success by bringing about the downfall of Somerset, who was arrested and later executed. Although Dudley, later Duke of Northumberland, never took the title of Protector, this is the role he now assumed. Protestant reform was stepped up - the new Prayer Book of 1552 was avowedly Protestant. Altars were turned into tables, religious imagery destroyed and religious orthodoxy was enforced by a new and more stringent Act of Uniformity.

It soon became clear that Edward was suffering from tuberculosis and would not live long. Northumberland was determined that his religious reforms should not be undone, so he persuaded Edward to approve a new order of succession. This declared Mary illegitimate and passed the throne to Northumberland's daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, who was a more distant descendant of Henry VIII. Edward died on 6 July 1553. However, Jane was only queen for a few days until, with overwhelming popular support, Mary took the throne.

SIZE: 27 x 23 inches inc. frame.
Canvas 20.5 x 16.75 inches.
PROVENANCE: Private Collection, Oxfordshire.
VERSO: an inscription painted on the canvas "Edward VI King of England b.12 Oct.1537 d.6 July 1553. This picture descended from Wm. Smithsby Esq. Keeper of Hampton Court (d.1660) thro' Barker to Nuttall of Tittour as Heirloom."
As the portrait was painted in the 18th century I fear this is a bit of Victorian romanticism and wishful thinking.