AGSA acquires rare Tudor portrait of Queen Elizabeth I via Ramsay Fund
The Art Gallery of South Australia has secured a remarkably rare portrait of Queen Elizabeth I from the 16th century, marking the first time a portrait of this Tudor monarch has been added to a public collection in Australia. This acquisition honors arts philanthropist Diana Ramsay AO (1926-2017) in celebration of what would have been her 100th birthday this year. Titled Elizabeth I with prayer book, c.1565, the painting portrays a youthful Queen Elizabeth I during the early phase of her reign, likely created to commemorate the conclusion of the mid-Tudor crisis in 1563. This exceptional piece will complement AGSA’s sole other Tudor portrait, that of her father, King Henry VIII, and is currently showcased in Gallery 12 of AGSA’s Melrose Wing for all to appreciate. The purchase was made possible through the James & Diana Ramsay Fund.
Key facts
- Art Gallery of South Australia acquired a rare 16th-century portrait of Queen Elizabeth I
- First portrait of a Tudor monarch in an Australian public collection
- Purchased in memory of Diana Ramsay AO (1926-2017) for her 100th birthday
- Painting titled 'Elizabeth I with prayer book', c.1565
- Depicts young Elizabeth in early reign, before her controlled portraiture style
- Likely painted to mark the end of the mid-Tudor crisis of 1563
- Joins AGSA's only other Tudor portrait, of King Henry VIII
- On display in Gallery 12, Melrose Wing, AGSA
- Purchased through the James & Diana Ramsay Fund
Entities
Institutions
- Art Gallery of South Australia
- James & Diana Ramsay Fund
Locations
- South Australia
- Australia