PROVENANCE
Thanks to Dr. Bruce Kaiser's discovery, it is undisputable that the Stained Glass Portrait of Catherine Howard originated in the first part of the 16ᵗʰ century. It was common for Royals, Nobles and Artisans to exchange gifts at New Year Celebrations. It is known that King Henry VIII was very much in love with Queen Catherine Howard. And so Hans Holbein the Younger, as His Majesty court painter, made for King Henry VIII a stained glass portrait of the “Rose without a Thorn” for the New Year celebration of 1541/42. When Queen Catherine Howard fell out of grace late 1541, Hans Holbein the Younger presumably gave the Stained Glass portrait to her uncle Thomas Howard, 3ʳᵈ Duke of Norfolk KG, for “keepsake”.
Inventory of “Tart Hall” 1641 (Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel and Surrey K.G.) lists the Cabinett of Mrss Katherine Howard which hereafter yo” shall find described (old English).
That is it. The “hereafter” is nowhere to be found.
The majority of the Arundel's possessions were shipped to Holland in 1643. The greatest art collector of that time died on the 24ᵗʰ of September 1646. The collection fell apart; most of it was sold by the “Weeskamer” in Amsterdam.
The number of auctions at the Weeskamer was huge, and frequented by Rembrandt van Rijn. It is also known that his sister Elisabeth van Rijn van Rosendael attended. As well as Rembrandt’s brothers; Adriaen, Willem, Gerrit and Cornelis. In all likelihood, one of them bought Katrain. However, according to our van Rijn family folklore, Rembrandt obtained the Stained Glass portrait and the sitter was known in our family as the famous Lady Ruler from Holland, Jacoba van Beieren (1401-1436). Thanks to Google, it became clear that she was not Jacoba but rather Queen Catherine Howard.
Sincerely Yours,
Caretaker van Rijn
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