Ladies' Favourite

Ladies' Favourite Ref: Gic-G106

On 22nd January 1478, a magnificent joust and tourney was held at Westminster to celebrate the marriage seven days earlier of the young Richard, Duke of York, son of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, and Anne Mowbray, daughter and heir of the Duke of Norfolk - both around five years old.

'And there entered, first, my Lord Marquis of Dorsett, armed in great triumph...'

A contemporary account of the event describes Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset's appearance, his horse caparisoned in 'crymson velvet, enramplished with Aes of gould curiously imbordered, with goldsmithry'. His shield was painted in the Mowbray colours of blue and tawney, and also decorated with an A (for Anne).

Giclée Print published from a gouache painting by Graham Turner.

Each print individually printed to order on very high quality heavyweight paper, and then signed on the border by the artist.

Sizes given are approximate and include a border.

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Available in three alternative sizes - select size required below -

Print Size

17"x 28" (42cm x 71cm) £99.00

14"x 24" (37cm x 61cm) £79.00

11"x 18" (28cm x 46cm) £59.00

Having printed your giclée print on the best quality fine-art paper (Hahnemühle 308gsm), Graham Turner individually signs it on the border.

CLICK HERE for more information about Graham Turner's Giclée Prints

Ladies Favourite - Medieval Joust cards by Graham Turner

GREETING CARDS

'Ladies' Favourite' is also available as a Greeting Card - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Detail from The Battle of Ferrybridge - print from a painting by Graham Turner

The Jousting Artist

Graham Turner took part in his first joust in 2004, and his experiences since then have had a dramatic influence on his paintings which convey a sense of immediacy and realism that can only come from such a deep understanding and involvement in this dramatic medieval 'extreme sport'.

CLICK HERE for details of other jousting paintings, prints and cards by Graham Turner, and for links to other pages on the Studio 88 website where you can see photos and find out more about his jousting career.

THE WARS OF THE ROSES

THE MEDIEVAL ART OF GRAHAM TURNER - Signed by Graham Turner

Graham Turner's eagerly anticipated book about the Wars of the Roses is now available.

It includes over 120 of his paintings and drawings, many newly created, with supplementary images and a comprehensive and fascinating text that illuminates the complex, shifting course of events and the people who lived their lives through this tumultuous time.

Order your signed copy now - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Excerpt from Graham Turner's book -

ENSURING THE DYNASTY

By the close of 1475 Queen Elizabeth had provided Edward with two sons and five daughters, and would go on to give birth to three more. Each provided opportunities for their father's aggrandisement and the future prosperity of their dynasty through the arrangement of suitable marriages, and over the coming years negotiations would be conducted throughout Europe. With their eldest daughter Elizabeth and third daughter Cecily betrothed to the heirs to the thrones of France and Scotland respectively, and a suitable bride for Edward, Prince of Wales, being sought in the courts of Spain, Austria and Milan, their second son Richard was the only one to be matched within the English nobility. When John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, died in January 1476, he left his infant daughter as his sole heir, making her an enticing prospective wife for the royal prince. Anne Mowbray's marriage to Richard, Duke of York, took place amidst all the spectacular pageantry and magnificence of the Yorkist court at Westminster on 15 January 1478, when the bride and groom were around five years old. As she was paraded through the palace from the queen's chamber, Anne's tiny hands were held by Earl Rivers and the earl of Lincoln, and on entering the crowded St Stephen's Chapel, she was led to join her future husband Prince Richard, his parents the king and queen, and other family members, who waited for her under a canopy of cloth of gold. A papal dispensation was required because of the children's 'nearness of blood' (they were both descended from Edward I), and once this had been proclaimed the marriage ceremony itself took place, performed by the bishop of Norwich. As the wedding party prepared to move to the king's great chamber for spices and wine before the matrimonial feast, the duke of Gloucester cast gold and silver 'amongest the comone people'.

The celebrations continued: on 18 January (the day before Clarence was accused of treason), King Edward created 24 knights of the Bath, and on the 22nd, jousts and tourneys were held at Westminster. The challenge had been proclaimed by heralds over a month before - six defenders would take on all comers in three disciplines: 'Justes royall, with helme and shield', 'Osting harneis, alonge a Tilt', and 'to strike certaine strokes with Swoardes, and guise of Torneye'. The defenders' shields or guardbraces (reenforcing plate for the left shoulder) would be painted blue and tawney, the livery colours of the duke of Norfolk, and decorated with a letter A, E or M, each with a precious stone (the A and M likely signifying the initials of Anne Mowbray, and the E Princess Elizabeth, the groom's eldest sister).

The first defender to enter the lists was Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset (Queen Elizabeth's son from her first marriage), 'armed in great triumph for the Justes Royall.' The duke of Buckingham bore his helm, with the knights and squires attending him clothed in his colours of white and murray. Five coursers followed, 'with rich trappers, cloth of gould, cloth of tissue, and crimson velvett' decorated with gold embroidered 'A's, a sixth horse led in hand for 'the accomplishment of his armes'. He was followed by his brother Richard in a similar display of magnificence, with his companions clad in the Norfolk blue and tawney livery. With a theatrical flourish, the celebrated Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers, emerged from 'the house of an Hermite, walled and covered with black velvett' dressed in the habit of a 'White Hermite', which his servants pulled from him to reveal him fully armoured for the tourney. Of the challengers, several sported the Yorkist blue and murrey colours, decorated with 'roses of silver in suns of gold'.

The jousting and tourneying was well fought, with many 'speares, well and laudably broken' upon their opponents, and sword strokes exchanged 'with ardent courage'. All seemingly came away with enhanced reputations from their display before the king and queen, the royal family, 'other dukes and earles, ladyes and gentlewomen', and foreign ambassadors, and the festivities concluded with dancing and the presentation of awards by Princess Elizabeth.

Anne Mowbray, the little girl at the centre of all these dynastic negotiations and bewildering ceremonies, would tragically not grow old enough to have any opportunity to enjoy her marriage. She died in 1481 just before her ninth birthday.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS of The Wars of the Roses: The Medieval Art of Graham Turner.

The Wars of the Roses

The period of civil strife in the second half of the 15th century now known as the Wars of the Roses was one of the most dramatic and turbulent in English history. Since first being inspired by a visit to Bosworth battlefield nearly 30 years ago, Graham Turner has immersed himself in the period to create a unique and comprehensive series of meticulously researched paintings that bring to life this colourful but unsettled chapter in our past and our ancestors who lived their lives through it.

Graham's available original paintings, along with prints and cards reproduced from them, are detailed here on the Studio 88 website, and the following links will take you to a relevant page to help your browsing.

THE FIRST BATTLE OF ST ALBANS, 1455

THE BATTLE OF BLORE HEATH, 1459

THE BATTLE OF LUDFORD BRIDGE, 1459

THE BATTLE OF NORTHAMPTON, 1460

THE BATTLE OF WAKEFIELD, 1460

THE BATTLE OF MORTIMER'S CROSS, 1461

THE SECOND BATTLE OF ST ALBANS, 1461

THE BATTLE OF TOWTON, 1461

THE BATTLE OF HEDGELEY MOOR, 1464

THE BATTLE OF HEXHAM, 1464

THE BATTLE OF EDGCOTE, 1469

THE BATTLE OF EMPINGHAM, 1470

THE BATTLE OF BARNET, 1471

THE BATTLE OF TEWKESBURY, 1471

THE BATTLE OF BOSWORTH, 1485

THE BATTLE OF STOKE, 1487

CLICK HERE for the overall menu to find details of Graham's complete range of medieval open and limited edition prints, individually produced giclée prints, greeting cards and available original paintings.

The Wars of the Roses - Medieval Art Paintings, Prints and Cards by Graham Turner