Anthony van Dyck's 'Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart'
Picture of the month May 2026
Can fashion predict a civil war? Fashion historian Amy Eloise Trend takes a closer look at this rich portrait to learn more about Britain in the 1600s
At first glance, this rich portrait seems to celebrate the wealth and power of its sitters, Lords John and Bernard Stuart. But underneath, it reveals the end of an era in Britain.
Every detail of these teenage brothers’ clothing tells us something about their life. Painted in 1638, it also gives us clues towards the deadly chapter in history that would follow.
Costumier and fashion historian Amy Eloise Trend takes a closer look at Anthony van Dyck’s ‘Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart’ to learn more about how luxury and fashion can link to civil war.
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