National Museums NI acquired a rare miniature painting of the Spanish Armada, securing an important piece of the UK’s shared history for public enjoyment and future generations.
The Spanish Armada off the Coast of England was painted between 1590 and 1610, only a short time after the 1588 conflict between the Spanish and English fleets. It includes Queen Elizabeth I watching from the English coast alongside members of her court. Experts consider it exceptionally significant because it's one of only two known near-contemporary miniature paintings showing the Spanish Armada approaching England.
Our £115,000 grant in 2019 helped National Museums NI acquire the painting – which was at risk of leaving the UK and subject to a temporary export bar because of its importance – and put it on permanent public display at the Ulster Museum.
It's a fitting home, because the painting has a special connection to Northern Ireland. It's thought to include the Spanish galleass, Girona, one of the Armada ships wrecked off the Antrim coast. The Ulster Museum cares for internationally-important objects recovered from Armada shipwrecks – the painting is a valuable addition to this collection.