Catherine of Aragon

Sitterback to top

• Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536), First Queen of Henry VIII. Sitter associated with 11 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Unknown artist. Artist associated with 6236 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This portrait of Catherine, in which she holds a bunch of lavender, matches the description of her given by an Italian visitor to London two years before the annullment: 'If not handsome she is not ugly; she is somewhat stout and has always a smile on her countenance.'
Recent scientific analysis has revealed that this portrait was painted in the early eighteenth century, demonstrating a market for Tudor portraits during this period. A pigment called 'Prussian Blue', invented between 1704 and 1710, was found to be present in the paint used for the background and the blue jewel on Catherine's headdress.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Tudor Portraits Resource Pack, p. 16
• Gittings, Clare, The National Portrait Gallery Book of The Tudors, 2006, p. 10
• John Cooper, National Portrait Gallery Visitor's Guide, 2006, p. 148
• MacLeod, Catharine, Tudor Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery Collection, 1996, p. 16
• Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 30
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 109
• Williamson, David, The National Portrait Gallery: History of the Kings and Queens of England, 1998, p. 88
• Williamson, David, Kings and Queens, 2010, p. 88

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Hats and head-attire
• Jewellery