This Painfully Beautiful Painting Will Make You Uncomfortable

This piece is called The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche. It was very popular in its time but was later forgotten and thought to have been lost forever. Lady Jane Grey, also known as "Nine Days' Queen", was a 17-year-old girl who was executed on February 12, 1554 ordered by Queen Mary I. This painting is haunting, tragic, striking, realistic, beautiful. I could look at it for hours. Thank you for watching!

#arthistory #art #classicart #fineart #ladyjanegrey

Credits:
Cloud special effect from Vecteezy

[Art_Deco]

Hey everyone! @hot mechanic pointed out that I misspoke. Thank you for pointing this out! Lady Jane Grey was married to Guildford Dudley in 1553, not 1533. I apologize for the slip up!

[huldrrrr]

It really hits you how dark the Tudor era was when the guy helping her to the block and the executioner are depicted as sympathetic/empathetic, paternal and compassionate figures

I always found Jane Grey's story so sad. All she wanted was minding her business and read her books. Also, that execution is a sneak peak of what Bloody Mary would later become.

[cindchan]

I always felt sorry for Lady Jane Grey. She was forced into a position she didn't want and then was executed for no action that was her own.

[OrigamiMiku]

I think it's so haunting because of its soft and delicate depiction of an innocent girl taking her own execution with the amount of grace that only a queen would have.

[ironsnowflake]

To think that they actually led this young girl to a block & took her life in such a grotesque both surreal & deeply chilling....not much of the humane in humanity far too often.
Love your work.

[justaregularuser]

I remember learning about this painting in college. From there, my research on the Tudor family continued. It amazes me how violent Henry Viii was and how his anger seemed to trickle down to other members of the Tudor family. Like a generational curse.

[livelearn]

I saw this painting as a teenager and when I walked into the gallery I was dumb struck by it’s beauty. It’s so large, I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It really moved me and it’s a moment I’ll never forget.
In fact, my daughter has just started an art history course and I was telling her about it earlier this week.
I think my phone was listening because this just arrived in my recommendations.

[mgb]

Thank you for this one. I know about Lady Jane Grey and have always found it a haunting, deplorable story. This painting, while not historically accurate, expresses the hopelessness and pathos of the events. I am not an "art person, " but I enjoy many of your presentations.

[mckinleygrimes]

I love this painting of Jane and as someone who has dedicated the last three years to writing every school essay about her story I truly appreciate the thought and study put into this video! Amazing work as always! Thank you for inspiring and entertaining myself and so many others!

[christopherscottcarpenter]

I've followed your channel long enough to see the emergence of a clear and unique style and voice in your storytelling - such wonderful content that I always watch as soon as I see it!

[Lora]

I remember seeing this in person, it's absolutely stunning and shocking all at once.

[tracyl]

I first saw this painting in the National Gallery in London when I was on a school trip, aged 12. Not the sort of thing you'd think would appeal to a kid (who was more Star Wars obsessed at that point!) but it floored me. Every time we go to the gallery now, I have to go and look at it again. It's a big painting and hits you full force. The colours, brush strokes, the light... no photo or film shot/ video can really do it justice. So happy to see this video of one of my favourites!

[riskriskmks]

This painting has great emotional significance to my husband and me. We fell in love with it in London and even got a small print of it framed. Then decades later, we were visiting New York and suddenly walked into a room where it was on loan. It felt magical, like a time and space portal: like we had travelled back to our early years, and from New York to London. A cherished memory.

[GoddessPallasAthena]

It's terrible how horribly Lady Jane Grey died. She was just a young girl, pretty much used as a pawn by everyone and killed for, well, NOTHING that SHE DID. Two "fathers" in her life pretty much made this happen, even if the final decision was made by Mary.

Thank you for the video. 😄

[machazychaz]

It really captures helplessness while trying your best. Lady Jane is blinded and still trying to find the spot. The men are obligated to do their job but still try to guide gently and to grant patience. The other girls are emotionally distraught but and you could make a case that they are trying to not make it worse (by making a scene or letting their lady audibly know how bad they're feeling)

[Feiy]

This is my favorite painting. As an artist, the level of skill is frankly inspiring to behold. Jane's white gown and loose curls; perfectly communicate her youth and innocence as she's blindly led to her death as a lamb is led to the slaughter.

Beyond that, this painting's size works in its favor. Similar to looking through a window or a doorway, you become an unwilling spectator of this tragedy. Your eyes are drawn in by the flaunted majesty, the harsh decadence of richly colored velvet and jewels, and the white satin contrasted against it all. This purposeful pageantry creates a sense of unease. Seemingly saying, isn't this beautiful? Isn't this repulsive too? That dichotomy is captivating.

[yup_pea]

Hauntingly sad! It's like the people around her don't want this to happen to someone so young and innocent, but are bound by the duties of the crown to see it through. It's like they are taking their time, especially the guy guiding her to find the block....wow awesome video! 👌

[Notahandle]

Mary Tudor is one of the most misunderstood people in history. She thought Jane an innocent pawn of Dudley and other courtiers but people still used Jane as inspiration for usurpation. She was out in a tough spot, as she always was, and acted just as the men around her did. Yet, men who killed more than she never had the word "Bloody" put in front of their name.

[learninglive_brokeninchro]

The way the artist captures light against fabric is beyond stunning.