The execution of LADY JANE GREY | the nine day Queen | Art vs history | Paul Delaroche painting
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- Опубликовано: 19 окт 2023
- The TRAGIC DEATH of Lady Jane Grey on a scaffold at the Tower of London in February 1554 was one of the greatest stains on the reputation of Mary I. Jane, who is known to history as the nine-day Queen and whose name at the time of her death was actually Lady Jane Dudley (in recognition of her marriage), was killed on the orders of Mary Tudor because her father, Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, kept plotting to put his daughter on the throne. Jane herself, having been only 15 or perhaps just 16 when she was made to take the crown after the death of Edward VI in 1553, can hardly be blamed. Also killed on the same day as her was her teenage husband, Lord Guildford Dudley, brother of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who was later Elizabeth I’s great favourite. Jane’s father was killed two days later.
In this video from History Calling I look at the execution of Lady Jane Grey by comparing the historical record to one of the most famous depictions of her last moments, the 1833 painting by French artist Paul Delaroche, which now hangs in the National Gallery in London. I will discuss the hours leading up to her death, including her distressing sight of her husband’s mangled corpse after his own execution on Tower Hill; her final letters to her family; Lady Jane Grey’s final words; what she wore to the scaffold; her demeanour; the famous moment seen in the painting when she struggled to find the block once her blindfold was one; who was with her at the moment of her death and the shocking way in which her body was treated after her execution and before her burial in the Chapel of St Peter Ad Vincula. We’ll consider how accurate the portrait it and hear about the reaction to it when it was first exhibited. I’ll also explain why Jane hailed as one of the Tudor era’s many Protestant martyrs and ask, can paintings of famous historical events really do them justice?
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What do you think of Delaroche’s painting? Let me know below and for more from History Calling remember to check out my Patreon page at www.patreon.com/historycalling and my Amazon storefront at www.amazon.com/shop/historycalling
A beautiful painting, for sure, though not an accurate account of events :) It dramatises the scene further, so does its job as an artistic piece :)
Yes, it seems rare to find an accurate version of an historical event shown in a painting like this. I can't recall any accurate depictions of the execution of Anne Boleyn or Katherine Howard either.
I really think that, uh, huh? The dollar Ashley's picture is not historically correct for a lot of the reasons that you pointed out however I do think that it does make you feel bad regime. I actually put the blame not at Mary. The first feet, but at Edward's feet for bringing her into this plot. Knowing full well that it possibly would not work. Period I also think that Mary had no choice. Once her father had joined in the Wyatt's rebellion. Because Jane would always be used as a figurehead. And I think Elizabeth would have also faced the same fate. But Mary couldn't prove any collusion or with Wyatt against Elizabeth. That is the only reason why Elizabeth was spared.
Yes, Edward was largely to blame for this situation too. It was a very short-sighted move on his part.
The painting is spot on in conveying the drama and tragedy of the moment. Having not seen it in person, I'm guessing that the massive dimensions convey the feeling of actually being stood there.
When I was a young boy, and read of this tragedy, I remember feeling a deep loathing for Jane's father. I felt he put his ambition before everyone, especially Jane. After being given a second chance he risked the future of his entire family by taking part in the second rebellion. Now, after many years have passed and I have matured a lot, I realise he really was a scumbag and I still hate him.
Yes, he was an absolute idiot. I always find it interesting to think how comparatively young he was as well though - only 38. Not much older than Anne Boleyn.
@@HistoryCallingIt’s always a bit strange to remember how very young the majority of the medieval world was. Of course there were plenty of older people around, but the vast majority of the planet was so young. Even those in power.
😂😂😂. Well put!
Did your father also take you into the city around the same time? (Sorry that's a horrid joke 😂)
I admire your maturity. A true d-bag he truly was! ❤
Edward never should have put her in that position. There was no way Mary was going to give up the crown. Such a sad story.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR VERY KIND DONATION TO THE CHANNEL NBRYANT. Yes, Edward was naive to the point of stupidity for trying to alter the succession at the last minute like that. If he'd married Jane himself it might have been easier for her, as she'd already have been Queen consort, but honestly I have my doubts that she and her supporters could have pulled off a coup even then.
They were so young and totally focused on their faith, without any practical perspective. Edward had no sense of the political risk and I gather that there probably wasn’t time to persuade him to designate someone with stronger support.
Nor could Mary risk keeping Jane alive with one uprising after another. Her own father is very much responsible for her death.
I do blame her father to a very large extent, but I would respectfully disagree that Mary couldn't keep her alive. Elizabeth was Protestant after all and though Mary came close to killing her (with better reason too - Elizabeth very possibly did plot against her) she didn't. I think she could have spared Jane and Guildford too. What was even the point of killing Guildford after all? Without his royal(ish) wife, he was nothing.
@@HistoryCalling I agree. Mary and her supporters would never have stood for it.
That poor little soul. So young and not to blame for what responsibility was thrust onto her by others. Delaroche's painting, if not completely accurate in costume or situation, sums up the onlooker's feelings of pity very well.
Yes, it's tragic to look at, though still very popular in the Gallery if the crowds there the day I saw it (late in the afternoon too) are anything to go by.
Of all the executed characters in history, I have always felt the most regret for Lady Jane. She seems to have been truly blameless in the machinations of the court and religious power plays being enacted around her, and was so young that she'd barely had a chance to live when she had to face death. But I had never heard of the letters written to her family, nor heard such a detailed account of her execution until this video. My reaction? - What a remarkable queen she might have made!! Such poise in the face of death, such scholarship and strength in her faith, and such forgiveness of those who betrayed her - no wonder she is regarded as a saint. Remarkable. Thanks for an enlightening video.
Yes, she reminds me of Elizabeth in many ways, though I have to say I think Elizabeth was a little bit more flexible around religion than Jane was and ever would have been and that was probably for the best in the long run.
In 2004, on a tour, I learned about Lady Jane. When I saw the painting I was memorized and it has stuck in my memory ever since. I don't remember any of the other paintings at the gallery but I will never forget that one. Its so sad and haunting. I love how you said her execution was one of the most senseless deaths in the Tudor dynasty. So true!
Yes, it's a stunning painting. There are lots of excellent pictures in the National Gallery though (and indeed the NPG next door to it), so do try to get back some day. They're well worth it (and free!)
@@HistoryCalling I would love to go back! Hopefully sometime in the foreseeable future!
That painting and the the Arnolfini Portrait. Still two of my favorites to this day.
I was able to view this painting on a visit to London some from Seattle fifteen years ago. I was so struck by the painting. I sat transfixed and deeply moved by the painting for what must have been an hour. I couldn't move. I had to be prodded by my travel companion to leave. On return home I found myself thinking back to the image. I couldn't get it out of my mind. It was one of the first things I talked about when asked about my trip. My sister could see the effect this painting had on me. She contacted the museun and ordered a print for me. She had it mounted and framed. It hangs in my home to this day.
i’ve always been captivated by the painting, it’s very beautifully done and almost makes me feel like i’m there witnessing it. truly horrific, i think of myself at 16 and others, i just can’t imagine. she was so mature, so level headed. it’s just so sad. couldn’t have been presented by anyone better HC, you’re seriously the best!
I know. I think of school-kids too when I make videos about Jane and Katherine Howard and it's mind boggling to see how young they were.
Yes exactly, Katherine too!! 😢
I am glad at least her endless piety seemed to give her strength and comfort. It's a remarkably detailed account of her passing, thank you.
Yes, I'm glad it comforted her as well. Thank you for watching and commenting :-)
Poor lady Jane.. A child treated like a vial of royal blood, thrown into the spotlight just to be killed.
Thank you HC for such an amazing work. Hope your week has been good, and that you enjoyed your dinner hahaha 🤍 wishing you the best.
Thank you. Yes, my week's been fine thank you, though it's currently howling a gale outside courtesy of Storm Babet.
👏👏👏Eric Ives pointed out that Delaroche's iconic image of Jane's execution caused a sensation when first exhibited; I think it certainly elevated her to legendary status. Thanks for this, HC. Have to drop a like and take my dog Lukas to the vet. Have a good weekend. 🙏🏼
Yes, it definitely did. It's odd how it managed to then become lost for so long. It was certainly a big attraction the day I was in the Gallery. It was tough to get the pictures I wanted of it.
I hope Lukas had a nice day out 😄
But the wee cratur, Lucas, was going to the vet. As a dog owner, hope he is ok !
@@ruthbeamish8849 Thank you so much. Sadly, it wasn't good news. Difficult decisions ahead. Appreciate your concern. 🙏
Certainly one of the most tragic deaths in history, and probably *the* most tragic political death. She hadn't commited any crimes or even personally offended the monarch, she was basically killed for being inconvenient. The painting may be full of inaccuracies, but I think it captures the mood excellently, everyone in it looks distraught to some degree. I thought of Jane Seymour when I saw the woman in red's outfit as well.
I'm glad it's not just me who sees a bit of Jane Seymour in that woman :-) Yes, I think Delaroche gets the emotion spot on, even if not all the physical details.
I think this painting is hauntingly beautiful. While it has an element of Victorian romanticism, after hearing your description of the events, it's closer to the truth than I would have given it credit for. Thank you for a fascinating lesson!
Lady Jane or Queen Jane has always been one of the most saddest stories of the Tudors from birth to death but the one of the most remarkably strong young ladies of the time. Just such a shame, she was a woman of the time and was used as a pawn
Yes, it's saying something that she's even more tragic than Katherine Howard whose story is also very hard to take. Poor girls (which is all they really were), both of them.
The trembling and fear she must have felt being blindfolded and unable to find the block having just asked if he was going to strike her before she laid her head down was palpable through the reports of her execution. Poor thing.
I saw this painting in London in the 1980s. I have never forgotten it. It was so powerful, dramatic, and filled with sorrow and unbearable sadness!
Being happily married, her explanation for not wanting to see her husband right before the execution hit so very hard.
I had a history teacher at a private Christian School here in the USA. He was a Lancaster, and actually gave me a zero on a paper I wrote about Lady Jane Grey, as he said she was not a queen of England. It has been almost 40 years since that Teacher was removed from his job at that school, because my father was livid that his grading was always done on a whim. Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England for nine days. The assignment was to write a paper on any British Monarch. I managed to write a fairly long paper for an 11 year old. Prior to the digital age.
Oh that was very harsh of your teacher. Now while I don't personally see her as a Queen, I nevertheless think that there's enough grey area (no pun intended) in her case that you can certainly make the argument that she was one. Your teacher sounds like a horror.
@@HistoryCalling He was. Even wore the Lancaster signet ring. I reminded him that he lived in the USA where we do not have a monarchy. He was very vocal about his dislike of me. I am technically a Savant, so it was a challenge for teachers to keep me interested in what they were teaching. I have things I am very good at, which led to high grades, and then there was stuff I had no interest in learning, yet still got high marks.
Poor Lady Jane… she truly deserved nothing that happened to her, and I solely blame Edward for throwing her in the position of the throne in the first place. Rest in peace, Lady Jane Grey.
Yes, I blame Edward to an extent as well. Did he seriously think Mary was just going to give up the throne?! It's like he'd never met the woman.
@@HistoryCallingThis is just one reason why teenagers shouldn’t be in top positions of government power, and I’m barely older than a teenager myself. Edward was very impulsive and reckless with his decision to bypass Mary and Elizabeth, and that decision led his cousin directly to her grave.
Yes and even if Jane had managed to hold the throne, it probably would have spelt doom for Mary and Elizabeth, as they couldn't be allowed to live and become a focus for anti-Jane sentiment. He made a real mess of the whole thing.
@@HistoryCalling Even Jane felt she was the wrong choice for the throne, outright saying Mary was the rightful heir, and that she only wanted to go home. Edward was a fool for throwing her into this situation without warning. There was absolutely no way Jane would’ve emerged victorious from this situation. She was a pawn in a game that she didn’t want to play.
I also blame her father, because his involvement in Wyatt's Rebellion put her in Mary's crosshairs. After that, it lent credence to the threat of Jane as a catalyst for anti-catholic rebellion, even if jane didn't want any part of it. Had he just gone home and left well enough alone, Mary probably wouldn't have activated those death warrants.
I've known about her story for years and yet many history programs skip her altogether and go straight from Edward dying to Mary's ascension because poor Jane tends to be overshadowed by Henry, Mary and Elizabeth ofcourse who were all such massive historical figures in their own right alot of people don't even realise Jane is in the middle of it all and was a queen regardless of how short her tenure was.
Every time I see Delaroche’s painting of Lady Jane Grey I feel sadness. She didn’t deserve to die in this manner. Edward VI being a child underestimated his sister and Jane’s family. She simply was used as pawn by Edward and her family.
I did see Six the musical on Wednesday. I particularly did not like seeing Anne Boleyn portrayed ditzy. I had to tell myself it’s a musical. Once I did that I enjoyed it. Even my husband who’s a sports fan. Thank you for the history lesson. Have a great weekend.
Yes, I wasn't crazy about Anne's portrayal either but the way they showed Katherine Howard actually broke my heart a little bit.
@@HistoryCalling
Same here.
I saw this painting some years ago and having read some about her, it truly struck me. It is a powerful statement with no words uttered. Her fear is almost palpable and whoever helped her find the block an almost automatic motion. This was a powerful video and the picture moves you to tears. Such a sad, sad story…
Yes, it's rare to see a painting that creates such an emotional reaction, but Delaroche certainly nailed that in this image.
What an amazing person Lady Jane. Truly a saved soul. Thank you .
Yes, her strength was almost other-worldly.
The painting is just haunting to me, i can't imagine what was going through her mind at the time
Given the massive amount of detail, sources and obvious care and attention you put into your videos, how long does it take you, from idea to recording to publishing to complete each video?
About a week usually. I generally can't afford more than that if I'm going to stick to my upload schedule, though I'm currently reading an 820 page biography for an upcoming video and I can tell you, I think that video is going to need more than a week to complete. There are some that I can do more quickly though, so that helps to offset the extra long ones.
@@HistoryCalling Ooh ok given how much detail in them I thought it would be longer! I shall look forward to the video you're currently reading for
I would like to have longer with them. Having only 3-4 days for research and writing does mean that little errors creep in sometimes, but it's just not feasible with a weekly upload schedule.
@@HistoryCalling The videos are phenomenal quality for the amount of time you have with them.
The recommendations you give for further reading or the sources you use in the videos allow me to do my own reading on things that pique my interest. I've picked up Eric Ives' book on Anne Boleyn and Josephine Wilkinson's Katherine Howard just because you mentioned them previously
V impressive 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
The painting is very romantic. I imagine the actual scene would have appeared much more grim to us, although it seems that those present at the very end were compassionate and gentle in helping this poor young woman grope her way to a quick death. It is, indeed, a terrible ending to her brief story. The only possible good thing to come out of it might be that Elizabeth wasn't pushed forward at that time as the Protestant heir. Her story could have been the one with a quick end, instead of Jane. Thank you for yet another deeply moving and detailed account of an incredibly sad event.
Yes, I think it will have been grim indeed. London on a February morning is freezing and miserable even now and that's without kids being killed for their parents' sins at the Tower. :-(
Fascinating. She had so much potential. Males used her as a pawn for their own power. Thanks for the clarification. You're awesome 🎉
Thanks David. Yes, she was a pawn indeed, poor thing.
Her mother was ambitious too. It wasn't just men who used her as a pawn.
This is a terrible injustice. To put to death a teenager and her similarly juvenile husband who's only crimes were obeying the summons and will of their recently departed king and cousin and being related to a rebel. This was one of many monstrous missteps by Mary I.
A new upload. Thanks. You don't know how fast I clicked on this video when it premiered. History Calling is truly one of my favorite RUclipsr channels. The in-depth research, art, and narration are perfect. The dedication in all these videos is astounding, and very much appreciated. History is so fascinating, can't get enough of it. If I could time travel to medieval Europe, I would. Poor Lady Jane. I always felt so bad for her. She really was a Marty and has been incredibly overshadowed , and overlooked throughout history in my opinion. She died because of her father's insolence. A pawn she was, just like Anne Neville, Elizabeth Of York, Isobel Neville, & countless other women sacrificed for the SYSTEM & SOCIETY. As a fellow Protestestnt Christian, after all my research and understanding of Lady Jane Grey, she died committed to her faith in Christ Jesus and it is my personal belief that she's now rejoicing in the presence of The Lord. Finally free from all earthly obligations and toils.
Thank you so much. Yes, I would think she's in heaven too. I can't see that she ever did anything to not deserve to go there.
ty for another excellent exposition HC - just an utter tragedy for this girl which she did not seek for herself at all - all Mary ever accomplished was to spread her unhappiness throughout the Kingdom - thank God she passed before she found an excuse to condemn Elizabeth as well - 🛸✨
Yes, Elizabeth came perilously close to death a couple of times. I wonder if Mary had some genuine affection for her though and if that held her back? Mary did live with Elizabeth for a number of years when E. was a little after all.
@@HistoryCalling - half sisters who I'm sure felt a very deep connection but if Mary continued for a decade or two I bet there would have been pressure to eliminate Elizabeth to preserve Catholicism in England - some one would have talked her into it eventually - ✨
Yes, either that or a nice, safe, Catholic marriage, which Mary was already trying to arrange for her.
@@HistoryCalling - not an easy girl to drag to an altar though
Indeed! :-)
Didn't know about her refusal of conversation. With prescence of mind of a sixteen year old girls it is exceptional that her thoughts and writings were so profound.
England lost a valuable person and probably queen-material at the very least.
How many innocent people were brought to such an ending through rebellions of someone else? Completely tragic.
Yes, she really was something remarkable. I do wonder what she might have done with her life if she'd been allowed to keep it.
Her writings sound incredible for a 16 yr old girl facing a brutal death. Her story is so disturbing, her innocence so blatant. It's sad and wrong, but also outrageous. She never wanted the crown, and even then a 16 yr old was viewed as a girl. It was an age to possibly marry and have a child, but still not seen as fully a woman. The painting sends an emotional message that makes one feel like crying.
I'm 16 and her story haunts me. The fact that her legacy has lived hundreds more lifetimes than her, and she didn't ask our want any of it is devastatingly beautiful. I honestly haven't stopped thinking about her since I learnt of her
In and of itself, the Delaroche painting is exquisite
Yes, it is lovely. Well worth a visit if you're able.
I first learned about Lady Jane Grey from the movie starring a young Helena Bonham Carter, and the novel *_Innocent Traitor_* by Alison Weir.
I'm puzzled that you describe Jane's hair as blonde in the Delaroche painting. To me, the young woman depicted has unmistakably red hair.
Really? I def. see blonde. Maybe we can compromise on strawberry blonde. :-)
You got barely two seconds into describing the painting and I was already tearing up. 21:45
It made me very sad as well. It was just so cruel and pointless. :-(
Jane's father is one of the most despicable people in history, and there are many to choose from. He deliberately gambled her life for his chance to grab power, not once but twice. Poor child, she was amazingly brave.
Yes, he really was a twit (don't want to risk upsetting the algorithm with anything stronger). She deserved so much better.
I'm constantly amazed by Lady Jane's poise and maturity at such a tender age. She's right up there in the pantheon of extraordinary Tudor women.
Yes, absolutely. I'd put her on a par with Elizabeth, though Elizabeth might have been just a little bit more savvy in the end and prepared to play the game a bit more.
@@HistoryCallingthis is something I’ve long thought. Her death was pointless, and not her fault; however, I wonder had she been more politically savvy, or just less staunchly Protestant, could she have saved herself? I often think that her being being as devout as she was pushed Mary, or at least made it easier for her, to execute Lady Jane after Wyatt’s Rebellion. The Protestant leaders would have had to replace Lady Jane with another candidate if she converted. Even if she’d chosen to remain Protestant, I feel like she could have done more to show that she wasn’t a threat to Mary, but Lady Jane seemed solely focused on her religion, and not at all concerned with self-preservation. I think that quality can be viewed as both admirable and foolish (although I also have to remind myself of her age). There are always the ‘what ifs,’ especially with tragic cases such as Lady Jane’s.
When the ad popped up after you said “and she said…” the ad was that airheads commercial that starts with a lady screaming while running away from a murderer 😂 perfect timing
Haha! I have no control over the ads, but it is funny when they align with the content like that :-)
I remember on Helen Castor’s documentary about Jane, one of the historians said the only thing historically accurate of the painting is the straw on the floor, which is a bit harsh. 😂 And that is was more likely Delaroche was thinking of Marie Antoinette, but she was too controversial a subject for that time.
I didn’t think Jane’s execution was particularly held against Mary because she was reluctant to have Jane executed. I always thought Henry Grey was more to blame, he knew Mary would execute Jane if the Wyatt rebellion failed and he was part of it. It’s interesting that Henry Grey only gets into any position of power after Henry VIII is long dead, you would think the son-in-law of his sister and his best friend, if he had any ability, would’ve been given any number of roles, but he gets nothing.
This thing that I find fascinating and will never understand is, Jane had a way out and chose not to take it. If she’d conformed religiously, Mary would’ve been likely to forgive her, she forgave her mother. Also I don’t understand why the decision was left with Jane, girls that age didn’t get to decide anything else for themselves, she didn’t get to choose her husband, she wasn’t asked about being queen, but her faith was left with her.
I've seen that one too. It said Jane was writing to her supporters and was encouraging them to overthrow Mary. That was treason and Mary's hand was forced.
Oh that is a bit harsh. Things like the blindfold, reaching for the block and being assisted to it are accurate as well. I think it gets the emotion of the situation across, which was perhaps the most important thing to Delaroche. I don't think Henry liked Henry Grey very much :-) I don't know if Mary would have forgiven her, even if she had converted, if only because she probably wouldn't have believed it. We'll never know though. I suppose a conversion would have made her less likely to be the object of Protestant ambitions to overthrow Mary, so it might have helped her in that regard.
This is a one of the greatest history channel, it’s not to long and you make it so interesting and your voice makes it like a movie.
Cheers from Sweden 🇸🇪
Thank you so much and greetings in Sweden, a country I've yet to visit but would love to get to as it looks so beautiful. :-)
Thank you so much for this video! I knew this painting was not contemporary, but have a new appreciation for it now after hearing in your video that some accuracy is attributable to it! I've recently revamped my ancestry research and attached a new 2023 addition to my family tree from another's trustworthy tree, connecting me "to be related directly to the family of Lady Jane Grey" via the descendants and ancestors of the marriage of Thomas Grey VIII (1455-1541) to Lady Joan Fenwick. This explains my strange obsession with Jane all these years and why I soak up all information about here like a sponge. So thank you for adding to that!!!
You're very welcome and what an amazing link to have on your tree :-)
It always surprises me how calm some people can be when they walk to the execution spot but I suppose if they've known for days that they're destined to die then they have a lot of time to gain their composure. It always breaks my heart when they have people in tears surrounding them, it says a lot about the person set to die's character when they have attendants completely sobbing over the fact they are set to die.
I've seen some people tell me that Jane disliked her husband just because she refused to see him prior to their executions but I always thought they were wrong about that fact. I'm glad to see that I was in fact right that Jane did not hate her husband as she refused to see him so they wouldn't get hurt, not out of lack of affection.
Honestly, I'm not even sure how well Jane knew her husband. They'd only been together a few months when they were separated. I certainly don't think she refused to see him out of cruelty. There's no evidence Anne Boleyn asked to see her brother before his execution for instance, but no one doubts that she cared for him.
@@HistoryCalling Well maybe they weren't in love but some people I've interacted are convinced she outright hated him for refusing to see him before they died.
Good example! I think I'll steal the Anne Boleyn example if I get into a conversation like that again
Poor girl. This must have been terrifying. Not the Tudors finest hour. Edward 6th is to blame for this utter waste of life. I know he was only 17, but he was considered old enough to be king. In his own desperation, he made some appalling decisions. Jane really didn't have much say in this sorry tale. I am surprised that she left such wise and calm words in the books. I am not sure I would have been so forgiving. The painting does have inaccuracies, but it is so emotionally charged that I think the artist can be forgiven. He certainly made sure that Jane got her wish not to be forgotten.
I also went to see Six last Saturday. It is not what you might expect and a bit superficial, but I really enjoyed it.
Thanks HC for this, another triumph. 😄
Edward was a wee bit younger, at 15, but he was shaping up to be quite the little tyrant and certainly wasn't half as smart as he thought he was when he dropped Jane in it with his 'Device for the Sucession'. Yes, Six is a bit frothy, but I found it surprisingly historically accurate on the whole too, which I wasn't expecting.
Thank you HC another great video, Not sure what to really think. Having teenagers beheaded just seems so sadistic. I do understand how bad it was back then, and if you were worried about someone not find a better way like sending them far away. I do give Jane so much credit for being so stoic under the circumstances The 2 things you read that she wrote were excellent so well written. Thank you
I hate that she was forced into this. She was so naive and innocent and King Edward and his advisors were stupid and culpable for poor Jane's death.
I first saw a photo of the De La Roche painting as a young girl. I was captivated by the composition and colors at first but then I looked more widely. I could see and understand the event depicted but wanted to know more. I spent a lot of extra time in the NY school and public libraries researching. I found a devastating story of ambition, pride, deceit and manipulation with a girl in the center who was no more than a pawn. Lady Jane Grey’s story broke my heart but taught me critical lessons about being one’s own advocate and fighting against power seekers.
I absolutely LOVE your videos involving artwork. I had the honor of seeing this beautiful painting when in London 5 years ago and was struck by its massive size. Having been fascinated with Lady Jane for the past 30 years of my life, I prefer the black and white depictions which seem more accurate, as opposed to this more romanticized version, although it is a stunning work of art. Great work on the video!!! ❤
I am sitting in the airport waiting to go home after having visited Hampton Court and am so happy to be watching this video 😊 As much as Jane's death was senseless, her faith and calm demeanour were truly humbling and this episode always sends a shiver down my spine. Thanks for this great video, I was hoping we would see one soon about Jane and i enjoyed it immensely 😊
Excellent video, as always! I also think it’s worth noting Delaroche was a key figure in the Romanticism movement and the way he portrays Jane in this painting is very much emblematic of that. The emotion you mention this painting pulls from us (and I agree) is something for which he was particularly known for achieving. Romanticism emphasized intense emotions as authentic and I think his painting of Lady Jane’s execution shows that perfectly. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, experience and hard work with this video and all of the videos you make for us!
I always felt her death was a tragity soo sad ...she didn't deserve this but one can never say no to the king.....I love the painting it's very emotional in its essence...thanks for this wonderful video..(yes
Needed tissues..) she was a child for God's sake ❤❤❤❤
Yes, this is a tissue video for sure. Her story is like a Greek tragedy. :-(
@HistoryCalling yes definalty is a Greek tragedy
..all for wanting a certain religion on the thrown....we as humans never learn ...it's really sad
Yes, we are stubbornly slow to better ourselves as a species. It's a great pity. Just look at some of the awful things happening in the world today and you can see that they aren't that different to what people living hundreds of years ago (who we'd now call backward and barbaric) were doing.
@HistoryCalling well said......we are supposed to
Learn from history ..not repeat! An unfortunately as you said the past they're backward...why should I bother to look to it!!! It's a sad sad world
Well I guess we look to the past to at least try to learn from it and sometimes we do (or at least some of us do). For all our problems, I still think that overall humanity is getting better. It just takes a long time.
This is so sad, she was way too young, still a child. I don’t know much about LJG or how she got caught up in the Wyatt rebellion but I certainly am intrigued to learn more. Thank you for this video!
I was awaiting for this video, thank you very much. I was in doubt where Jane was executed but by your video was at Tower Green, a private space within the Tower where it was considered more dignified for nobility to be beheaded away from spectators and not inside as shown in the image. As you said I've read also that Delaroche recruited the famous actress and his lover as his model. She is shown with her hair loosely and falling over the shoulder, but in reality her hair would b have been tied firmly upon her head or else cut short.He also made several studies for the painting. One of the key compositional features of painting though fine is how no one in the scene looks out at us. Each of them is completely absorbed in the moment and assimilated into a scene that is brilliant self-contained.
Love, love, love your videos -- as always!! I especially love your videos when they focus on paintings like this! I love seeing you compare actual sources to artistic interpretation and inspiration while also acknowledging and accepting the painting as a source of emotion, and not just historical fact.
Thank you so much. I thought the painting would be a different and interesting way to approach what I know is a well-worn topic.
Me too, and well said.
Thank you as always HC, Tudor history as we know was a bloody time in History Jane showed Grace and courage at her end a remarkable young women history has looked kindly on her and rightly so I blame her father for her death, as for the painting it shows the fellings of Jane and the others in the painting,
Yes, it was really everyone's fault but hers. She's like the definition of a royal pawn.
This is another excellent video. A sad ending for this young woman. She had the grace and courage to face this unthinkable ending. Thank you for the glimpse into her short life.
Yes, her courage really was remarkable and just as noteworthy as Anne Boleyn's, maybe even more so given her young age.
Oh how history may have been different had Edward not meddled. Perhaps Jane would have become Queen after Elizabeth’s death.
Also, Jane’s husband, Dudley, was the sibling of Robert Dudley? They surely would have become an active part of Elizabeth’s court.
Yes, Jane or her children might have inherited after Elizabeth. They were next in line according to Henry VIII's will. Yes, she was Robert Dudley's sister-in-law, so that might have affected her court position too.
Excellent videos HC. I appreciate your well researched videos.😃👍👍♥️
Thanks Contessa. Glad you enjoyed it :-)
Love hearing the very detailed analysis of the painting...i enjoy viewing art but usually can't describe the meaning of all the details
Same here. I have to go research all the art history/analysis for these types of videos. It's not my natural forte.
I’ve seen this painting a couple of times at the National Gallery. It is a powerful image.
It's gorgeous isn't it? There was a big crowd around it when I was there, which made photographing it a challenge (as did the lighting conditions).
So cruel what happened to her. Thanks for her story. Very interesting. AND THE PAINTING WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
You're welcome. Yes, it is stunning. Well worth seeing in person if you have the chance.
My favorite thing to look forward to every week!
Aww, thank you so much. That's very kind :-)
7:27 you should narrate audiobooks. I could listen to you reading all day ❤
Very nice work. Thank you.
It’s officially FriYAY with a new History Calling video ❤
Haha, it sure is. Hope you're in an art history mood :-)
Queen Jane - as she is officially acknowledged as such on The Royal Family's official website, is definitely among the darkest moments of the monarchy's history. The princes in the tower might be darker, depending upon their means of demise.
I don't think the authenticity of the painting matters as much as its emotional impact does. He wasn't taking a photo, he was telling a story in paint. Even if we knew nothing about the image, we could still read that story. A woman is seen going to her death, dressed in innocence (white) and bathed in warm heavenly light (goodness). She is shown receiving compassion from the man, unbearable grief of her impending death from the women. They turn away from the block not because of dramatics, but because this is a travesty of injustice, and not some great spectacle of The Nation's Justice to enjoy. The executioner observes the grief and compassion with a grim aire to his body language. It falls to him to carry out this sentence, but he finds no honor in it. He doesn't wear a hood thus suggesting his identity will be forever tied to hers. He worries whether his swing will be true and swift. 😢
Although her rule of nine days is discussed in the Royal Family's website, she is not listed as queen, but as "Lady Jane Grey," which I find odd, as, if she had a reign, you would expect to find her listed as "Queen Jane." They clearly can't make up their minds about it either, but don't want to say so.
Yes, Delaroche was an expert story-teller with paint. I couldn't agree more and the emotional reaction the picture garners is perhaps what he was interested in more than historical authenticity too.
Very well done. Thank you!
It's sad to think how she didn't have to die. Edward put her in harms way by misjudging Mary's sense of entitlement to the throne. Her own father endangered her further by getting involved in a Rebellion, which wasn't even in her name as the Rebels wanted to crown Elizabeth. After that, whatever mercy Mary contemplated for Jane and her husband was definitely not happening. Jane herself was so firm in her beliefs that no other escape was possible. She would not convert. I think that had she converted and repented further, Mary maybe would've let her live? If not as a free woman, then maybe on house arrest or part of a religious order? But we are long removed from that reality, and it is easier to judge and discuss 'what ifs'. It is also easier to feel bad for everyone involved. I feel bad for the 16 years old Jane. And I feel bad for Mary for various misfortunes and disappointments that befell her. And I can ponder if there was a way out that no one took at the time. My modern morality and sense of justice are very different from what was considered right back then.
Yes, she really is blameless here. As for converting and being saved, I dunno about that. I think it was Cranmer who said he'd convert, but Mary killed him anyway. I feel for Mary too a lot of the time. She was very damaged from the way her father and brother treated her and it clearly took a toll. Plus, as you say, she was living in very different times with an entirely different moral compass.
@HistoryCalling Cranmer was a special case because Mary had a very personal vendetta against him over their parents' marriage dissolution. And it came back to bite her because his recantation was a massive boon to the Catholic cause, but because she didn't follow the rules and executed him anyway, he became a protestant martyr instead. I don't think Mary had the same personal issue with Jane herself. So maybe? If Jane repented and converted, maybe she would never be completely free (just look at the lives of her sisters or Arbella Stuart), but alive.
It is a very sad and short reign. It is raining here in Newcastle England history calling
Absolutely howling here too. Named storms are always miserable (guess that's why they name them though).
Such a tragic tale and so wonderful and Interesting told by you.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ANDERSCLAREUS for so kindly donating to the channel. I'm glad you enjoyed my take on Jane's death. I thought the painting would be a slightly different way to approach a well-worn topic.
What an amazingly sad painting and story. Thank you.
You're very welcome. I only wish it had had a better ending.
Very sad I just hope her death was quick and she felt no pain. It was very interesting to learn the art history about the painting.
I think it was, yes. Like Anne and Katherine, I believe it was a 'one blow of the axe' deal. Not the horror story that Mary Queen of Scots went through.
It’s like you read my mind I was going to ask this video today and we’ll you posted it haha
Great minds think alike :-)
Beautiful painting, but poor Jane. Well done HC for narrating so well in her honour 🕊
Imagine how terrifying it would have been to be part of the court/nobility at that time! Being a relative of the crown brought no safety whatsoever and if anything sealed your fate……. Horrific😢
Edit; it always blows my mind that there’s no records of anyone going in to try to stop it even though it would be death for them as well, but I guess even if someone did they wouldn’t have allowed someone to write about it because it would encourage others to do the same, and that of course would be “ treason”
I know. You were much better off in many ways as a merchant or something - a job that would keep a roof over your head, food in your stomach and clothes on your back, but not make you too important at the same time.
Wonderful video. Jane was certainly a highly educated and intelligent young lady and poised and more mature than many other women of the day twice her age, I should think! I agree that something just doesn't add up about her body being left on the scaffold for a few hours: that may have been added for further dramatic effect. The Delaroche painting is lovely but here, too, dramatic license was taken.
Yes, I don't think the body was abandoned like that and there's no primary source for it.
Many thanks again for your research and presentation. I admit I knew next to nothing about Jane Grey.
Thank you. I wish it was a happier story though.
So sad, a lovely little martyr. Mary’s Spanish husband and his court had much to do with Mary signing the death warrant. She was besotted by this tiny future husband but the Spanish were uneasy about possible threats to Mary’s rule and by extension Spains influence. Apparently they demanded all threats ( specifically Jane) were neutralised ( killed) before the marriage could proceed. Desperate for a husband and an heir , Mary signed the Warrant. RIP Lady Jane.
Very interesting, thank you!
Love your videos, just one note: it's Rijksmuseum (one word), rather than Rijks Museum 😉
This queen is certainly worth to be investigated😮on RUclips is the excellent documentary "Englands forgotten queen" and in film we have "Lady Jane" from 1985 starring Helena Bonham Carter and Patrick Stewart as Suffolk. Also some good acting by John Wood as Northumberland and there is some excellent music in the film. The Delaroche painting is fascinating like others have already mentioned. The genre is called historical paintings. Another famous painting in this genre is the the death of Leonardo da Vinci in Amboise where he dies in the arms of Francois I King of France in 1519.
This poor girl was a pawn in a nasty game of power, poor child, always felt so sorry for her
Thank you for your content.
And thank you so much for taking the time to watch and comment :-)
Very good! Thank you 😊
Thanks Nathan :-)
If the wealthy royals lived such a privileging life but yet dangerous and deadly. Can you imagine the life the subjects had.
The Rolling Stones have a song called Lady Jane is that about her?
Lastly this was very well done
Thank you. No, apparently that song is a reference to the book Lady Chatterley's Lover, but the reference is too rude to write here. You can Google it though.
thanks for reply@@HistoryCalling
Lady Jane Grey has been a fascination of mine ever since seeing that painting when I was 19. I just had to know more about her. My heart still breaks a little every time I think of her and her husband.
Could you do a video on her sisters? I was always fascinated by them.
They are on my long-term list. I've seen other channels do videos on them though and don't like to do what my competitors are doing (although they steal from me all the time so I'm probably being stupid not just doing the same). At the very least, I think I'd like there to be a good long gap between other videos on the Grey girls and my own.
That's good that you don't want to copy others! I just love your videos more because you show the paper trail, cite your sources and are generally more reliable.
It would also be interesting if you did a video on "The Most Pleasant Song of Lady Bessy"
It makes me hope that there is an afterlife when I hear about Jane Grey. Poor child.
A very compelling painting and story. Tell us more.
Thank you. I threw pretty much everything I had at the video, although my upper level Patrons are getting a bonus this week looking at Jane's final speech.
Many thanks. Jane was an undeniable victim, notably of ambitious and grasping parents. You don’t make any attempt to see this from Mary I’s perspective. She had been inclined to show clemency to the Greys in the aftermath of Jane’s abortive 9 day reign. I very much doubt this would have happened under any other Tudor monarch. In any event, the Wyatt revolt made it inevitable that Jane Grey would be executed. Pragmatic politics alone made it an absolute necessity. Even then, I imagine Mary had some scruples but ultimately succumbed to significant pressure to eliminate Jane, not least to clear the path for her marriage to Philip II of Spain. Had Jane lived, I suspect Elizabeth I would have kept her under lock and key or worse, it being clear from her treatment of Jane’s sisters that she had nothing but contempt for the Greys. I would throw in the execution of Margaret Pole and Edward Earl of Warwick as judicial killings that were just as unfair. They are examples of many unfair executions I could have selected during the Tudor period.
I have three biography videos on Mary's life in my Tudor monarchs' series in which I am very sympathetic to her as I think she was terribly treated by her father and later her brother. It's true though that I think her decision to execute Jane was cruel and unnecessary. Elizabeth was still alive after all, as were Jane's sisters who immediately inherited her claim to the throne. I don't think killing Jane and Guildford (also a teenager and no threat to the throne without his royal wife) achieved anything.
On a side-note, I agree that Margaret Pole's death was totally unjustified. Regarding Edward, Earl of Warwick, that was a very sad life and I feel greatly for him. People kept pretending to be him or trying to break him out of prison though and he had a good claim on the throne as well. I think Henry VII tried to keep him alive as long as possible and had better reasons for resorting to execution than Mary did with Jane. The fact that he only killed Warwick after 14 years on the throne shows in my opinion that he was not a particularly blood thirsty man and actually quite restrained and merciful for a 15th century King.
Good evening to history calling from Bea 🇬🇧
Hi Bea. Some art history for you this week. Hope you enjoy it :-)
Hope you enjoy your weekend from Bea 🇬🇧
Thank you. You too. Hopefully it stops raining soon!
Looking forward to seeing your next video next Friday
I think she didn't see the block right away because someone may have stood in the way so that the sight of it wouldn't frighten her too early. It would be a good practice to hide the view of the implements of execution until absolutely necessary in order that the condemned might sound brave during their last speech and be less likely to lose their nerve and try to escape. It'd be a lot easier to execute a calm person resigned to their fate rather than a fighting desperate person. A scaffold would be impossible to hide, but maybe they stood the condemned in front of it in order to deliver their final speech? Maybe they handled burnings in the same manner? It would be interesting to see a video about official English execution methods. The ceremony, who was allowed to give final speeches, the handling of the corpse and wordly goods after, etc.
"The Execution of Jane Grey", Paul Delaroche, oil on canvas, 1833, points score:
Accuracy: 7/10
Feels: 11/10
Such a sad ending, very well told. Thank you. Question: you state that the execution site is where people now queue to see the Crown Jewels. But the site of execution that I have seen, is marked by the round memorial you show at 16:00 in this video. Before the glass memorial there now, there also was once a plaque/marker stating that location as the place. Did they change it to move it out of the way of tourists??
Another fantastic video!
Thank you so much :-)
I couldn't belive the size of the painting when I saw it last year.
These videos are always so wonderful (even though the themes are almost always terribly sad). The way your replying to every comment really brings a smile to my face, the effort put into the channel really shows!
Aww, thank you so much. I can only attempt to answer the first 24 hours' worth of comments at this stage (and sometimes not even that), but I like to try to get to as many of them as I can.
It is really striking, that painting. So beautiful and terrible. It is definitely dramatic and I think he did a masterful job. Poor Jane.
Hi, awesome live history video I enjoyed it. How are you doing? I'm doing well. Have a great day see you next video 😊
Thanks Michelle. I'm good thanks. Just enduring the howling wind and rain we're currently having courtesy of Storm Babet :-(
She was nothing but a weak and confused vessel for men to throw their ambitions on. Every person who put her in harm's way should get a long tour of Dante's version of Hell. She was so damn innocent it was criminal
She was not weak, nor was she confused. I don't warm to her, but she was a very determined and stout-hearted young woman. But I agree that she was used as a pawn by her family and their associates.