King Edward VI

Sitterback to top

• King Edward VI (1537-1553), Reigned 1547-53. Sitter associated with 45 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Unknown English artist. Artist associated with 10 portraits.

This portraitback to top

The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward succeeded his father in 1547 aged nine. Scholarly and firmly Protestant, he ruled during his minority with the help of a council, but was dominated first by the Duke of Somerset as Lord Protector, and later by the Duke of Northumberland. The latter induced Edward to will the crown to his daughter-in-law Lady Jane Grey, in order to ensure the Protestant succession. Edward died of tuberculosis shortly before his sixteenth birthday. In this portrait, which is thought to have been painted after his accession, Edward mimics the forceful pose of his father seen in Holbein's Whitehall Cartoon.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Audio Guide
• I-Spy National Portrait Gallery, 2010, p. 7
• Clare Gittings, The National Portrait Gallery Book of Elizabeth I, 2006, p. 4
• Gittings, Clare, The National Portrait Gallery Book of The Tudors, 2006, p. 15
• MacLeod, Catharine, Tudor Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery Collection, 1996, p. 19
• Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 36
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 195
• Williamson, David, The National Portrait Gallery: History of the Kings and Queens of England, 1998, p. 93
• Williamson, David, Kings and Queens, 2010, p. 93

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• Painting the Boy King: New Research on Portraits of Edward VI (24 May 2008 - 7 December 2008)

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Carpets and textiles
• Chairs
• Crests and Coats of Arms
• Hats and head-attire
• On display at the Gallery