Follower of Maynard Waynwyk

Graham Baron Ash, Wingfield Castle, Diss, Norfolk, circa 1956;
Probably his sale, on the premises, Christie's, 30 May 1980;
Anonymous sale, Christie's South Kensington, 13 November 2003, lot 3.

R. Strong, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, vol. I, London 1969, p. 20 (listed at Wingfield Castle)

STRUCTURE The panel is in good, flat, stable condition, and has not been cradled. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be good condition, with no apparent extant loss of paint. There is a small area of blistering in the lower left, however the paint has not started to flake. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals scattered minor retouchings in the flesh tones of the face and hands, as well as a bit in the costume. These areas however appear to be in very good condition, given the age of the painting. There is more extensive retouching to old paint loss in the background areas of the picture. FRAME Held in a black painted frame, with a gilded inner edge and inscribed in Latin with details of the sitter around the edge. To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com, or Ludo Shaw Stewart on +44 (0)207 293 5816, or at ludovic.shawstewart@sothebys.com.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The daughter of John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset (1404-1444) and sole heiress to the House of Lancaster, Lady Margaret Beaufort was the mother of Henry Tudor, who became King Henry VII of England in 1485. She was the richest and most powerful woman in medieval England, a great book collector and patron of the arts, and a scholar in her own right, as well as a dedicated philanthropist. She founded no fewer that two colleges at Cambridge, Christ's College and St. John's, and was an important patron of William Caxton, who made significant contributions to the religious and literary culture of her day.

This picture is a half length version, probably sixteenth century, of the full length portrait of Lady Margaret attributed to Maynard Waynwyck at Christ's College, Cambridge. A similar half length version is at Hatfield House (Marquess of Salisbury), and another is in the National Portrait Gallery, London.