FDA-P.38-2010
Parts
Object number
FDA-P.38-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
'Jane Shore'
Title Type
assigned by cataloguer
Description
Painted half-length portrait of a woman, nude, with an elaborate necklace, two strings of pearls and jewels in her hair
Comments
This work was painted after a 16th-century panel version in King’s College, Cambridge. Dendrochronological testing of the King’s version dates the painting to 1550-60.
This work is an 18th-century copy of an earlier painting at King's College, Cambridge, which is traditionally called 'Jane Shore'.
Jane Shore is said to have spoken up on favour of Eton College when King Edward IV ordered the transfer of the College’s assets to St George’s Chapel in Windsor. Elevated interest in her following the success of the 1714 play The Tragedy of Jane Shore, by Nicholas Rowe, may have led Eton College, or someone associated with the College, to feel a portrait was required. However, the original on which this work is based, is in fact from the French School of artists who worked in and around the Palace Fontainebleau during the 16th century.
This work is an 18th-century copy of an earlier painting at King's College, Cambridge, which is traditionally called 'Jane Shore'.
Jane Shore is said to have spoken up on favour of Eton College when King Edward IV ordered the transfer of the College’s assets to St George’s Chapel in Windsor. Elevated interest in her following the success of the 1714 play The Tragedy of Jane Shore, by Nicholas Rowe, may have led Eton College, or someone associated with the College, to feel a portrait was required. However, the original on which this work is based, is in fact from the French School of artists who worked in and around the Palace Fontainebleau during the 16th century.
Description
Content (person)
Shore, Jane, ? - c.1526/27 (Sitter)
Dimensions
height (sight size): 485mm
width (sight size): 370mm
height (frame): 605mm
width (frame): 490mm
depth (frame): 40mm
width (sight size): 370mm
height (frame): 605mm
width (frame): 490mm
depth (frame): 40mm
Inscription
Labels on reverse:
1. Printed label 'Exhibition of Art Treasures 1857', inscribed in pen and ink 'The Reverend Provost and Fellows of Eton College proprietor'
2. Identical printed label with name inscribed in pen and ink 'Casper Barlow'(?)
3. Printed no.'876', possibly auction no.
4. Luggage label with pencil inscription (needs UV lamp to decipher)
5. Paper label with number in pen and ink '33306'
6. Paper label inscribed in 19th century hand in pen and ink 'Eton'
1. Printed label 'Exhibition of Art Treasures 1857', inscribed in pen and ink 'The Reverend Provost and Fellows of Eton College proprietor'
2. Identical printed label with name inscribed in pen and ink 'Casper Barlow'(?)
3. Printed no.'876', possibly auction no.
4. Luggage label with pencil inscription (needs UV lamp to decipher)
5. Paper label with number in pen and ink '33306'
6. Paper label inscribed in 19th century hand in pen and ink 'Eton'
Materials & techniques note
Oil on canvas
Physical description
Carved gilt frame
History and association
Object history note
Exhibited: British Institution, London, 1820, catalogue number 134; British Institution, London, 1846, catalogue number 134; Manchester Art Treasures, 1857, catalogue number 6; National Portrait Exhibition, South Kensington (Easter Corridor), 1866, catalogue number 34
[Note: For more information on the National Portrait Exhibition of 1866, see correspondence in the Eton College Archives, Ref. COLL P3/40]
[Note: For more information on the National Portrait Exhibition of 1866, see correspondence in the Eton College Archives, Ref. COLL P3/40]
References
• Cole, B. ed., Eton Collections Review 3, December 2008 (pp.13-21, Fig.2), Catalogue number: 34
• Victoria and Albert Museum, Catalogue of the first special exhibition of national portraits ending with the reign of King James the second on loan to South Kensington Museum, Oxford University, 1866 (p.8)
• Victoria and Albert Museum, Catalogue of the first special exhibition of national portraits ending with the reign of King James the second on loan to South Kensington Museum, Oxford University, 1866 (p.8)
