6th July 1553 England gained her first queen regnant. Despite her struggles and chaotic life, Mary I achieved her birthright. One of the queen’s first acts was to promote her image. By September the queen had sat for a portrait and had commissioned coins. Yet this side of Mary I is not commented on in the historiography.  This talk shall explore several images of the Queen; from portraiture to legal documents, coins to medals, the queen is even present on windows. Mary was not the villain often portrayed, but an innovator and a woman who understood the power of imagery. Her presence on all these mediums ensured that her subjects would see their queen. Mary I’s image was global, not only as queen of England, but from 1556 as Queen of Spain. The age of Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon had returned. Mary I’s imagery lay the foundations upon which her successor would build.

Peter Stiffell is a Tudor historian who recently completed his PhD at the University of Kent. Peter’s research explores the iconography of Mary I via her portraiture and material culture. He examines the many portraits of the Tudor queen as well as exploring imagery surrounding Marian coins, medals and seals.

Tickets

 Tickets are £12 per talk, or enjoy the full series for just £30 when you book all three