An Unknown Lady, called 'Anne Ayscough/Askew, Mrs Thomas Kyme (1521-1546)'

Hans Eworth (Antwerp c.1525 – ?London after 1578). Oil painting on panel, An Unknown Lady, called 'Anne Ayscough/Askew, Mrs Thomas Kyme (1521-1546)' by Hans Eworth (Antwerp c.1525 – ?London after 1578), initialled and dated: HE 1560 (HE in ligature) and inscribed: RATHER DEATHE/THEN FALSE OF FAYTHE. A half-length portrait of a woman, in black with white ruff and cuffs, and with hands clasped. Despite the sitter being incorrectly labelled as Queen Mary (of Scots) on the picture frame the painting possibly represents Anne Ayscough/Askew, the first Protestant martyr who was burnt at the stake as a heretic in 1546 for refusing to acknowledge that the Sacrament was the 'flesh, blood and bone' of Christ. Tatton Park, Cheshire (Accredited Museum)