Lecture on Ralph Sheldon's Henry VIII Portrait
January 3 2025

Picture: Warwickshire County Council
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Just in case any readers might be dropping by the Midlands later in March, I'm giving a lecture for the Warwickshire County Council on Ralph Sheldon's recently rediscovered portrait of Henry VIII. It will hopefully feature some new research about the painting, including details of how it was made, its provenance and what might happen to it next. I'll be joined by my friend and colleague Aaron Manning (from HRP) who will discussing some of his own research into one of England's most recognisable monarchs. The lecture will be on 1st March 2025 at Warwick Old Shire Hall (where the painting was hanging) and will cost £11.29 to attend.
I might also mention this other rather fascinating work, which has had a mini-upgrade from 'attributed to' to by the artist 'in full'. Can any reader identify the painter?
Update - Well done to all of you who got in touch to point out this is a painting by Sir Peter Lely. Intriguingly, the picture was previously given to Mary Beale (which I think in this market would make it a touch more valuable I suspect), and the Woburn Abbey provenance is still being investigated as it does not appear in the 1951 Duke of Bedford sale.