Getting under the Surface: Brand new research reveals the hidden secrets of ‘Mary Queen of Scots’

 

In December, we introduced this English School oil painting on panel belonging to one of the earliest and most cohesive collections within the City Art Gallery & Museum’s

fine art store, featuring portraits of many historical characters including Henry VIII and Erasmus. One of 26 artworks donated to the Worcester Natural Society in 1850 by Reverend George Downing Bowles, the subject of this work is thought to be Mary Queen

of Scots.

For decades, the portrait has been obscured from full view, covered in facing paper designed to protect the image. However, funding from the Leche Trust enabled long-awaited

conservation work to take place over the last few months, revealing the portrait in all its glory. After removing the facing paper our conservator was able to painstakingly remove the layer of varnish on the surface, a process which helps to show the paint

colours the way they were intended by the artist. The first image here shows the portrait half-way through this process - you can see how much brighter the colours on the right side of the painting are.

Conservation work also established that many details including the orb, sceptre, crucifix and hat were in fact later 19th century additions. The sitter

originally held a fan in her right hand, which was likely painted over just before the additions were made. You may be able to see evidence of this process in the second image as the paint used to cover the fan has become transparent and changed colour with

age.

Support from West Midlands Museum Development’s ‘Expert Eye’ programme has also provided further insight into this and other works in the Bowles collection. Research

experts suggest that ‘Mary Queen of Scots’ was originally a portrait of a high-ranking Netherlandish lady, completed in the early 17th century.

The Bowles collection will feature in the upcoming

The Power of Portraiture exhibition at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum - please keep an eye on our website for further details. To learn more about the Bowles collection, join us for a Bite Size Talk: The Power of Portraiture where the exhibition

curator will share more of the recently discovered revelations about this fascinating series of portraits.

Register for free (donations welcome) and watch the talk as it’s released on Tuesday 9 March or catch up later at a time to suit you. Book at

bit.ly/MuseumEventbrite.

 

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