Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox (1515-1576)

Painting by William Scrots of unknown woman, possibly Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, or perhaps of Mary Queen of Scots. She is wearing, underneath her gown, a chemise with blackwork cuffs and collar. Painting by William Scrots of unknown woman, possibly Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, or perhaps of Mary Queen of Scots. She is wearing, underneath her gown, a chemise with blackwork cuffs and collar.

Illustrated here is a painting said to be that of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox (1515-1576). Some scholars suggest the painting is that of Mary Queen of Scots. Either person is shown wearing a beautiful black gown with underneath a white chemise decorated at the cuffs and collar with blackwork. The painting is dated to about 1546. The painter is believed to be William Scrots. The painting measures 178.4 x 95 cm.

Margaret Douglas was the mother of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, who married Mary Queen of Scots, and hence she became the grandmother of James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England. She was buried in Westminster Abbey, London.

The painting was auctioned at Sotheby's, London, in 2010.

Effigy of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, at Westminster Abbey, London.

 

Sources:

  • BOSWELL BAXTER, 'The Will of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox,' blog 5 July 2014.
  • WEIR, Alison (2015). The Lost Tudor Princess, Jonathan Cape.

Digital source of illustration (retrieved 9 October 2016).

WV

Effigy of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, at Westminster Abbey, London.

Last modified on Saturday, 04 March 2017 21:24