Elizabethan Geek

Subject:	Sir Henry Lee
Artist:	Antonis Mor van Dashorst
Date:	1568
Source of image:	http://tudor-portraits.com/
Uploaded by:	KatRowberd
Upload time:	2003-08-20 13:21:59

Reviews

Review by:

gilgilis

Sir Henry Lee (1530-1610) began his career in the service of Henry VIII and actually outlived Elizabeth by seven years, so he was one of the few courtiers present from the start of her long reign to its end.

As well as various official posts, from 1559 to 1590 he held the ceremonial position of Queen's Champion. This portrait silently proclaims his devotion to Elizabeth, whose favour he never lost. His sleeves are decorated with armillary spheres (Elizabeth's emblem) and true-love knots, expressing his loyalty in appropriately chivalric terms. As well as the rings on his fingers he has a (ruby?) ring on a red cord at his neck, a (diamond?) ring tied to his upper left arm and another gold ring tied around his wrist. Perhaps these 3 rings are distinguished because they were personal gifts from the Queen? Other than these he displays relatively little 'status' jewellery, the heavy gold chain looped several times round his neck being the sort of thing which at this period any wealthy gentleman, or even wealthy merchant, might wear. Yet a post-mortem inventory of Lee's belongings features a significant jewel collection, including pieces set with miniatures and items with names such as 'the Robyn Redbrest' 'the Butterflye'and 'the Gloabe'.

Sir Henry pleased Elizabeth by never marrying. His mistresses included Anne Vavasour.

Review by:

gilgilis

Tying things on your arm with red cords: I just noticed an account of a quarrel between Sir Charles Blount and the Earl of Essex in the late 80s. The quarrel started because Essex saw Blount wearing a favour given to him by the queen, and got jealous. Blount was wearing the favour very ostentatiously on his arm, tied with a red riband. I think this suggests that the jewels Sir Henry Lee is wearing here, tied with red cords, are probably valued gifts from the Queen as well.