Mark Satchwill Art Historical Portraits: Medieval

"Eleanor Of Aquitaine"

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, November 2007

Eleanor was born in 1122. She had an excellent education in one of the most cultured courts in Europe (Aquitaine was a region of France). Aged 15 she was married to Louis VII and became the Queen of France as well as Duchess of Aquitaine. She and her husband led the second crusade though it ended in disaster, for which she was blamed. She and Louis had their marriage anulled in 1152 (they had had two daughters). Six weeks later she married Henry of Anjou (Henry II of England), a man 11 years her junior and with whose father she had had an affair. She bore him eight children over the next thirteen years, including Richard the Lionheart and King John. Her mariage to Henry was tumultuous and he even had her imprisoned for 15 years as she was allegedly encouraging her sons to rise up against their father. Richard succeeded as ruler of England on his fathers death in 1189 and he released Eleanor and made her Regent of England while he went on the Third Crusade. She eventually outlived all her children but two, John and Leonora and died in 1204.

"Richard the Lionheart"

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, November 2007

An ACEO portrait of the 12th Century King Richard the Lionheart. Richard was essentially French, though born in England and ruler for 10 years he spent only six months there while King. He fought in the Crusades and his nickname came from his military bravery. Though he did marry he appears to have had relationships with men also. He died in 1199. This is a commission piece.

"Eleanor Of Castile"

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, 2008.

An ACEO portrait of Eleanor of Castile, the mother of Edward II. She was born in 1241, the daughter of Fernando III of Castile and his second wife Jeanne. She was married to Edward I, son of Henry III in 1254. The marriage was a happy and successful one, producing sixteen children in all, though only six surivived to adulthood, the only surviving son being the future Edward II. She died in 1290 aged 49, at Harby. After her death and burial at Westminster Abbey Edward had memorial crosses placed at every stop he made on the journey from Lincoln to Westminter with her body. There were twelve in all, of which only three remain, none complete.

"Edward II"

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, 2008.

An ACEO portrait of Edward II. Born in 1284 he became King after the death of his father Edward I in 1307. Though married to Isabella of France in 1308, and having four children with her, he bestowed more attention on male favourites, firstly Piers Gaveston and later Hugh Despenser. These relationships caused outrage not only because homosexuality was considered a heinous sin, but also because these men were low born and Edward bestowed lands, title and riches on them over his Lords and Nobles. Edward was also a weak ruler, and the favourites wielded power. This caused great resentment, not only among the nobles but also from Isabella. Gaveston was murdered in 1312. By 1320 Hugh Despencer had replaced him. Isabella was sent to France in 1525 and while there plotted with her then lover Roger Mortimer to invade England and depose Edward. In 1326 they did this, Despencer was executed and Edward captured and imprisoned. He was forced to abdicate in favour of his son Edward III. While imprisoned at Berkeley Castle Edward was supposedly murdered on the orders of Isabella and Mortimer in 1327. However it is also believed that Edward actually escaped and lived as a hermit in Italy until 1338