LORD ARUNDEL
Young Tudor children wore the same kind of clothes when very young, therefore sometimes it’s hard to tell whether a portrait shows a boy or girl.
This one is little Lord Arundel.
He is wearing a magnificent outfit made up of a bodice and skirt, in a lavish design.
The little Lord wears a lace apron.
Lace was very expensive, and usually aprons were made of a cheaper material because they were worn to protect clothing from becoming dirty.
The fact that Lord Arundel’s apron was made from lace shows that his parents spent a lot of money on his clothing.
Lord Arundel holds a gold rattle and gold chain around his neck.
Gold was, and still is, very expensive.
Also in the painting is a ‘toy’ pet dog.
Ordinary families kept working dogs to help them with certain tasks or to protect their homes.
Only richer Tudors could afford to keep a dog as a pet.
The portrait of Lord Arundel attributed to Paul Van Somer, can be found in the Darnley room at Temple Newsam House.
c.1577.
