The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche Tapestry

The Execution of Lady Jane Grey (1537 - 1554) in the Tower of London in the year 1554; c1833 by French Painter Paul Delaroche (1797 - 1856), who was a successful European historical painter, creating scenes from English and French history in a mixed style of Romanricism, Academicism and Neoclassicism, with an aim towards pragmatic realism. The painting depicts Lady Jane Grey also referred to as Lady Jane Dudley (after her marriage to Lord Guildford Dudley) as well as the Nine Days Queen as she is being executed in 1554. Lady Jane Grey was nominated in June 1553 by 15 year old Edward VI to the Crown as she was a committed Protestant and would support the reformed Church of England, thus removing his half sisters Masy and Elizabeth from the line of succession since Mary was Roman Catholic. After King Edwards VI death on July 6, 1553 Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen on July 10, 1553; on the other hand support for Mary his half sister to be ruler grew quickly. As it did the majority of Jane's supporters abandoned her, causing the Privy Council of England to switch sides and proclaiming Mary, Queen of England on July 19, 1553, deposing Jane as ruler. Meanwhile Jane's main supporter the Duke of Northumberland who was also her father-in-law, was accused of treason and executed a month later on August 22, 1553. Jane was imprisoned in the Tower of London and convicted in of high treason in November of 1553, which carried a death sentence. She was initially spared by Queen Mary; but she was soon viewed as a threat to the crown when her father Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk became involved with Wyatt's Rebellion against Queen Mary's intention to marry Philip II of Spain. Both Jane and her husband were executed on February 12, 1554. This is a retouched digital art old masters reproduction of a public domain image.