She was the 'nine days Queen', the tragic royal who rule volatile before he was put to death.
But now, almost 500 years after her death, researchers believe that an unreadable painting could be the only well -known work with Lady Jane Gray in her life.
New scientific analysis performed on the mysterious portrait – which carries scratches over the eyes, mouth and ears – offers 'compelling' proof that the image of Lady Jane is.
Experts from the English heritage and the Courtauld Institute and a prominent scientist have discovered that various changes were made to the portrait after it was completed, including the clothing of the babysitter and the direction of her eyes.
The changes could have been made to portray Lady Jane – who was beheaded by her cousin Queen Mary of just 17 years in 1554 – as a Protestant martyr.
The portrait, on loan of a private collection, can be seen from today in Wrest Park in Bedfordshire.
The functions are similar to a confirmed representation of Lady Jane that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.
Lady Jane is considered by many scientists to be an innocent victim of the ruthless ambition that defined the Tudor court.
She was the 'nine days Queen', the tragic royal who rule volatile before he was put to death. But now, almost 500 years after her death, researchers believe that an unreadable painting could be the only known work that Lady Jane Gray displays in her life
New scientific analysis performed on the mysterious portrait – which carries scratches over the eyes, mouth and ears – offers 'compelling' proof that the image of Lady Jane is
She was portrayed famous by Paul Delaroche in his portrait the execution of Lady Jane Gray as blindfolded and helpless for the block.
But this work and the few others who portray her were all painted after her death.
The mysterious painting that can be seen in Wrest Park was analyzed by expert Ian Tyers, a specialist who specializes in Dendrochronology – The Science of Tree Ring Dating.
He discovered that the work was painted on a panel consisting of two Baltic oak plates from two different trees. It suggests a date of use of between 1539 and 1571.
The back of the panel shows a merchant or cargo marking, identical to a brand used on a royal portrait of King Edward VI.
Another used technique was infrared reflectography (IRR), in which infrared light is used to 'see through' paint layers.
This turned out that the portrait was changed considerably after completion.
The sleeves of the babysitter have changed and it is likely that the white scarf on the shoulders is a later addition.
Lady Jane was depicted famous by Paul Delaroche in his portrait The execution of Lady Jane Gray as blindfolded and helpless for the block
An inscription on the back of the mysterious painting, asking if it is Lady Jane Gray
Some scratches found on the portrait. They are supposed to be part of an iconoclastic attack
The coif (a linen cap worn over the hair) has also changed considerably.
When scanning, another formed coif and possibly a hood (a more decorative chapter about the coif) with subtly shown stitching is to see to frame the face.
There may also have been a veil that is now very unclear.
A striking change is visible in the eyes. Although they now look to the left of the babysitter, the eyes looked straight past the viewer.
And the deliberate scratching from the eyes, mouth and ears was probably an iconoclastic attack – where images are destroyed for religious or political reasons.
The portrait of Lady Jane in the National Portrait Gallery bears the same signs.
The newly investigated painting is one of the seven that can now be seen in the Bedfordshire Mansion that was once the house of Peeress Jemima Marchioness Gray.
Peter Moore, the curator of the English Heritage in Wrest Park, said: 'For years this painting was part of the historical collection in Wrest Park, which was taken over in 1701 in 1701 by Anthony Gray, 11th count of Kent, as an image of Lady Jane Gray.
Another used technique was infrared reflectography (IRR), in which infrared light is used to 'see through' paint layers. This turned out that the portrait had changed considerably after completion
The sleeves of the babysitter have changed and it is likely that the white scarf on the shoulders is a later addition
'It remained the determining image of the' nine days of queen 'for more than 300 years, until the attribution was questioned and its identity was rejected.
'In loan from a private collection, it is exciting to have this painting back at Wrest and the new research provides tempting evidence that brings us much closer to the claim that this could be Lady Jane Gray.
“In addition to this painting, the public can also view six other paintings that can now be seen, including important portraits of earlier owners of Wrest Park.”
Rachel Turnbull, the Senior Collections curator of English Heritage, said: 'Working together with the Courtauld Institute of Art and Dendrochronologist Ian Tyers, has carried out English heritage in a remarkable research in an attempt to determine the identity of this portrait.
'Although we cannot confirm that this is certainly Lady Jane Gray, our results certainly make a compelling argument!
'From the new discovered proof of a perhaps more extensive costume and the date of the wooden panel from her life, to the deliberate scratching of her eyes, it is possible that we look at the shadows of a once royal portrait of Lady Jane Gray, weakened in detailed, Protestant torture after her death.
“Regardless of her identity, the results of our research are fascinating.”
Historian and historical novelist Dr. Philippa Gregory said: 'I was so excited to see this portrait when it was in the English Heritage Conservation Studio, especially because they have a provisional identification of Jane Gray.
English heritage curator Rachel Turnbull investigates the painting
'Certainly, the functions are similar to those of its portrait in the National Portrait Gallery.
“This is such an interesting photo that asks so many questions, and if this is Jane Gray, a valuable addition to the portraits of this young heroine, as a woman of character – a powerful challenge for the traditional representation of her as a blindfolded victim.”
Lady Jane was abandoned by King Edward VI, the morbid son of Henry VIII.
Jane ruled shortly after Edward's death in 1553, but Mary then grabbed the throne.
She and her husband then spent six months as prisoners before Mary decided that they were too great a risk for her reign.
The man who supervised the beheading of Lady Jane was Sir John Brydges, the lieutenant of the Tower of London who was also depicted in the painting of DeLaroche.
He was so moved by the calmness of the former queen that he begged her to remember something to remember her.
She gave him her prayer book and registered a message in which she described herself as Brydges' 'friend'.
Lady Jane Gray: The Nine Days Queen who was executed in the Tower of London
Often described as one of the most tragic figures in the history of Tudor, Lady Jane Gray was a grandmother of Henry VIII and the first cousin ever removed from Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.
She was the oldest daughter of Henry Gray and his wife, Lady Frances Brandon.
Because of her mother she was also the great -granddaughter of Henry VII.
Lady Jane had two younger sisters, Lady Catherine and Lady Mary.
Often described as one of the most tragic figures in the history of Tudor, Lady Jane Gray was a grandmother of Henry VIII and the first cousin ever removed from Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. Above: Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen in the 1986 Lady Jane movie
When the 15-year-old King Edward was nominated Jane as the successor to the crown in his will, for his half-sister Mary.
But Lady Jane had the shortest government in the history of England, from July 10 to July 19, 1553, when the Privy Council then called Mary as Queen.
Jane was then imprisoned in the Tower of London. She and her husband Lord Guildford Dudley were both accused of high betrayal, found guilty and sentenced to death, although their lives were initially spared.
She was still a teenager at the time of her death on February 12, 1554 and was posthumously seen as a Protestant martyr.
Her father, the Duke of Suffolk – the son and heir of Thomas Gray, 2nd Markess van Dorset – was also found guilty of betrayal and were executed days after his daughter was beheaded.
