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KristinaGehrmann — TheExecution of Lady Jane Grey
Published: 2011-09-26 13:41:36 +0000 UTC; Views: 122439; Favourites: 2068; Downloads: 42
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Description
In the Tudor era (and probably in the Middle Ages too) it was customary for the executioner to ask the condemned's forgiveness. It was supposed to show that he held no malice towards the victim; that he was only an extension of the law doing his job. By granting forgiveness the condemned also had a chance of showing magnanimity in the face of death, thus leaving a good impression on the spectators.Lady Jane Grey forgave her executioner, as did Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard before her.
Who was Lady Jane Grey? She was designated queen by young king Edward Seymour (the son and successor of Henry VIII, as you remember).
But when he died in 1553, she managed to be queen for only about 2 weeks, because Henry's daughter Mary Tudor had many supporters and so became queen the same year.
The 17 year old Lady Jane Grey, though she didn't plot against Queen Mary herself, became a symbol of resistance and Protestantism and so became dangerous to the Catholic politics of Mary. Queen Mary had her executed for "high treason" in 1554.
You can read the entire story on Wikipedia here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Jan…
Even today historians aren't sure if she had a legitimate claim to the throne or not, so she's usually not included in a line-up of English regents.
Hmm. That's quite a lot of death scenes in my portfolio so far. Perhaps I should paint a birth some time...! Nevermind. The next painting, of course, is going to feature Mary Tudor ("the Catholic" or "Bloody Mary" depending on whose side you're on).
Photoshop and Wacom tablet as always, took about 30 hours or so. (Social life? What's that? XD)
Wood and brick wall textures snatched from cgtextures.com .
Screaming guy referenced from alastock - alastock.deviantart.com/art/sc…
Lady-in-waiting referenced from lockstock - lockstock.deviantart.com/art/T…
Special thanks to the folks on Conceptart.org for kicking my butt
WIP can be seen here: img196.imageshack.us/img196/34…
© Kristina Gehrmann
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Comments: 257
Wonderful job! The picture is so full of emotion and impending tragedy.
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I always thought executions and the people who came to watch to be very savage and primal although the period was far from the stone age.... People, thirsty for blood. And those executioner men were probably feeling very manly and tough by killing women. /facepalm Great painting, I will go and check the rest of your gallery!
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This is so well done.. it makes me so sad ='( you did a wonderful job at portraying their emotions <3
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I love that you took the time to research the story and illustrate it. Really well done! Was the research for a school assignment, or just for your own curiosity? What brought it on?
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Just for my own pleasure 
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Poor Lady Jane. Beautiful peace love her expression
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I love the expressions. The executioner is very attractive looking too. I have 2 questions though: What is in the background behind the priest? And wouldn't our lady's hair be styled off the back of her neck for an execution?
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This is truly amazing. I love the details and the light and the whole atmosphere of the picture. Realy fantastic.
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Absolutely breathtaking I love that you made digital look like a traditional media. And her expression just wants to make me cry. A very moving piece
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wow! that is definitely one of you best paintings so far!!! (at least that is my opinion ^^)
very good textures and details, as far as I can see them. the scene is well done, not too much around the figures, I like that a lot. moreover, it supports the gloomy atmosphere, the colors all go along very well. I like how you put the people in the painting, I can see a kind of balance in it.
die Figuren im Mittelpunkt sind gut ausgeleuchtet und auch Vorder- und Hintergrund sind gut voneinander abgegrenzt. das Bild wirkt "ausbalanciert" und beachtenswert stimmig!
haut mich echt vom Hocker, diese Arbeit! gut gemacht
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I love the facial expressions, especially that of the man at the top left. Not to mention the lighting, giving focus to the Lady.
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THIS IS STUNNING )_)
have you painted the death of Joan of Arc? that would be an amazing portrayal..
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This is amazing, Kristina! I love how you used lighting to underscore Lady Jane as the focus of the image.
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lovely!
Can wait to see Queen Mary I (no i don't believe she was bloody)
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Absolutley lovely!!! Love all expressions and feelings!!
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Truly one of the most tragic moments in English history. This is obviously taken from the classic painting of the subject by 19th-Century artist Paul Delaroche, who took many liberties with the historical accuracy of the event. This is much more accurate and, with its more concentrated focus, more poignant. Brava! 
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OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Es wirkt unglaublich echt. Also von dem Punkt abzusehen, dass es offensichtlich gemalt wurde, wirkt die Szenerie ziemlich real. Die Kleidung, die Bewegungen und die Mimik und Gestik sind echt gut getroffen.
Es wirkt also verstörend gut.
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Very dramatic... I really like how you drew the watching crowd.
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oh men, i am searching for such pictures everyday, but it's so hard to find a good one
most of the people only upload screenshots :S
bt this pic is really great! it's so realistic
you can even see what the people were felling, relly good faces!
i love it 
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Awsome <3
One question, did you mean Mary of Scotland? I mean, the queen who was prison of Elizabeth for years? I'm a lil bit parallel with the history..
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Thank you
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stimmungsvoll und sehr schöne Ausarbeitung, mehr kann ich dazu nicht sagen
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This piece is lovely! I'm a Tudor buff like you wouldn't believe and I love it!
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wow, das ist ein wundervolles Kunstwerk!
Tolle coloration, wirkt alles sehr echt, die Stimmung kommt rüber. Perfekt!
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Print ist da!
...und bestellt. Ich habe noch so einen richtig schönen Goldrahmen, da paßt das super rein.
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Ich hoffe, das kommt noch an bevor ich nach Spanien fliege.
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Einen Tag haben sie noch. XD Wenn nicht, dann ist es halt in 2 Wochen da. Wenn es gerahmt und aufgehängt ist, schicke ich dir mal nen Foto.
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WOAH!!!! this is absolutely stunning! At first I thought: Man, has someone uploaded illegally an artwork of one of the old masters here at DA and klicked it - and it is your artwork. You have an absolutely incredible style.
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