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8:35 am
June 24, 2009
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This is a very interesting painting of Lady Lee housed in the Met Museum of Art, New York. I have posted it on the Anne Boleyn Wiki. But there is a direct link here:
http://www.museumsyndicate.com/item.php?item=10584
It shows Lady Lee – Margaret Wyatt, Anne Boleyn’s close companion and confidante. It’s not entirely certain if it was done by Holbein, but if not then it is certainly something from a highly accomplished pupil or colleague. Beautiful.
But the important thing for us is the medallion she is holding between her fingers. It appears to show the Vestal Tuccia (of the Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome) holding a sieve. It is a universal symbol of innocence based on a old story. The lady in question – in order to prove her virtue one day – demonstrated her innocence by carrying water from the Tiber in a sieve to the temple. For Lady Lee to be holding it is clearly stating that innocence is the message she wishes here to convey to posterity. And who would she be protesting the innocence of – AB of course!
11:05 am
July 9, 2009
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Hi Sarah. That's awesome! How did you find the history of that medallion? I've heard that story of the Vestal Tuccia but would never have recognized the motif on a medallion. I am so close to the Met but haven't gone in years-this painting might just be the kick in the pants I needed to go! There are no true contemporary portraits extant of Anne herself, but it's so cool that we can see what her family and friends looked like. Lady Lee was one of Anne's best friends from childhood, was her chief lady-in-waiting, attended her on the scaffold, and was of course the sister to Thomas Wyatt. She is supposedly the \”my lady Lee\” of some versions of the nursery rhyme London Bridge Is Falling Down-\”London Bridge is Broken Down/Dance Over my Lady Lee/London Bridge is Broken Down/Over a Gay Lady…\”
Ainsi sera, groigne qui groigne.
12:45 pm
June 24, 2009
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Melissa said:
Hi Sarah. That's awesome! How did you find the history of that medallion? I've heard that story of the Vestal Tuccia but would never have recognized the motif on a medallion. I am so close to the Met but haven't gone in years-this painting might just be the kick in the pants I needed to go! There are no true contemporary portraits extant of Anne herself, but it's so cool that we can see what her family and friends looked like. Lady Lee was one of Anne's best friends from childhood, was her chief lady-in-waiting, attended her on the scaffold, and was of course the sister to Thomas Wyatt. She is supposedly the “my lady Lee” of some versions of the nursery rhyme London Bridge Is Falling Down-”London Bridge is Broken Down/Dance Over my Lady Lee/London Bridge is Broken Down/Over a Gay Lady…”
Melissa, I'm so glad you feel as excited as I do! I've been waiting to somebody to respond to my post – because it is just like somebody speaking out to us through this painting at a distance of four over 400 years! I can't claim 100% original detective work on this, however. I was following a debate somewhere on the internet and somebody mentioned the medallion and said rather cryptically that anyone who wanted 'proof' of AB's innocence should get to know their Roman history and take a look at this portrait in the Met. All a bit 'da Vinci' isn't it! So I did – online, alas, as I am a good few hundred miles across the Atlantic Ocean from New York – and there it was. It straight away reminded me of the famous Sieve Portrait of Elizabeth – and I knew the story of Tuccia from studying the symbolism of that a while ago. Then it all fell into place.
And what a fantastic portrait, anyway! If ever there was a face of intelligence and strength of character here it is. If her good friend Anne was anything like that, she must have been quite a lady!
That was interesting, too – about the song London Bridge is Falling Down. I had not seen that version.
Thanks again for your enthusiasm!
4:07 pm
February 16, 2009
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Wow, what an amazing portrait, she really looks like she could just walk out of the painting – fabulous. Thanks ever so much for the link, Sarah, and for telling us about the medallion and the story behind it. I love the secrets that art can tell us and yes, I love the Da Vinci Code!
You are such a knowledgeable person, sarah, so thanks for educating us and thanks Melissa for the version of London Bridge – nursery rhymes are so funny in the way that they tell us little stories about monarchs, important people and scandals of the time.
Now, I really must go to bed! Thanks both of you for sharing x
Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn
12:48 am
June 20, 2009
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That is an awesome portrait….
Let not my enemies sit as my jury
10:14 am
July 9, 2009
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Regarding nursery rhymes, apparently a lot of them have to do with our Anne and her enemy Wolsey. Check it out: http://brainz.org/24-terrifyin…..-children/
And I agree-it looks like Ms. Wyatt could walk off the canvas. Holbein was truly a genius and I love getting a glimpse at what these people actually looked like.
Ainsi sera, groigne qui groigne.
3:57 pm
June 23, 2009
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Thanks for the links melissa! Totally great information. The portrait of Lady Lee is fascinating isn't it? She looks like a no nonsense woman who probably gave her dear friend some good advice.
Diem et animus scire cupio: I desire knowledge of the soul.
5:55 pm
August 12, 2009
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It was a pretty gutsy thing for her to do, as everyone was aware of the symbology in portraits. Maybe that's why she looks so serious or stern. It was a mute reproach to Henry – \”She was innocent!\”
A sidenote – the link to the portrait says it was painted in 1540; the portrait itself says Margaret is 34 yrs old. So she was born in 1506 or 1507? And if she was a childhood friend of Anne's, it stands to reason they would have been close in age, so does this lend credence to Anne's birth being in 1507? Which, I know more historians (like Ives!) lean closer to the 1501 birthdate due to her age when joining the Archduchess Margaret's household, but would a 12 yr-old be BFFs with a girl who was only 6 or so? Enough that they would pick up the friendship years later when Anne came back to England? Or is the \”lifelong pals\” thing an exaggeration? Maybe they were friendly, but didn't really click until Anne was back and hanging around with Margaret's brother?
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
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