'Ladybird' Books

If you're British, and of a certain age, you'll probably remember these 'Ladybird' books. 

Here are my historical ones. 

 

 

 

 

Prince Henry Stuart

 

 

A portrait (by Robert Peake) of Prince Henry Stuart, the eldest son of King James VI of Scotland (and later James I of England) and his wife Anne of Denmark.

He showed great promise, but sadly died at the age of 18.

British history would have been very different if he had become King, instead of his brother Charles.

'The Winter Queen'

A portrait of Princess Elizabeth, the daughter of King James VI of Scotland (and later James I of England), by Robert Peake.

In 1613, Elizabeth married Frederick V of the Palatinate. Later he became King of Bohemia, but after only one winter, he was deposed. Because of this, Elizabeth has romantically been called 'The Winter Queen'. 

 

 

Lucy Churchill's Anne Boleyn Medal

 

 

 

 I just love this!

 

Sculptor Lucy Churchill who did a reconstruction of Anne Boleyn's 1534 medal has now made them in 38 mm diameter.

 

This is the same size as the original one, which was almost certainly handled by Queen Anne herself. It is now in the British Museum.

 

For more information and how to get one: 

 

https://www.lucychurchill.com/AnneBoleynMedal_1.php

 

 

A Restored Holbein in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

A portrait of an Unknown Lady Age 17 by Hans Holbein (or a follower in his workshop) in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 

The sitter has been called Queen Katheryn Howard and also Mary Howard, Dowager Duchess of Richmond, though there is no proof to support her identity as being either of these two young women. 

The description on the Metropolitan Museum's website says that the picture has been 'extensively restored', and that 'retouching of the mouth may contribute to the exaggerated pout'. 

This is evident in the second image shown here, which has the sitter without her smile, as she originally was. 

Update (Nov. 20): As some visitors to this post have pointed out, this is rather a reinterpretation of the work, than a 'restoration'. I have to say, they are quite correct.

 

After restoration

 

 Before restoration