December 9: Charles and Henry Stewart

Today's portrait was painted in 1563 and shows, according to the inscription, Charles Stewart (Stuart), aged 6, and Henry Stewart (Stuart), Lord Darnley, aged 17, both sons of Matthew Stewart, Earl of Lennox, and his wife, Lady Margaret Douglas. The older boy is, of course, the Lord Darnley who would go on to marry Mary, Queen of Scots.

Like yesterday's painting, this is another example of a portrait showing an "unbreeched" boy, i.e. a boy who hasn't been moved into wearing hose and breeches. Little Charles is only six, so he is wearing a skirt.

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