National Museums Northern Ireland 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 painting, The Spanish Armada off the Coast of England, was created between 1590 and 1610, only a short time after the events it depicts. It shows the 1588 conflict between the Spanish and English fleets, with Queen Elizabeth I watching from the English coast alongside members of her court. Experts consider it exceptionally significant because it is one of only two known near-contemporary miniature paintings showing the Spanish Armada approaching England.
The work also has a special connection to Northern Ireland. It is 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, making the painting a valuable addition to this collection.
Our £115,000 grant in 2019 helped National Museums NI acquire the painting and keep it in the UK. Our funding enabled the museum to save a nationally important work at risk of leaving the country and place it on permanent public display at the Ulster Museum.
The painting had previously been subject to a temporary export bar because of its national importance. National Museums NI had tried to buy it in 2003 but was unable to secure it. Support from the Memorial Fund and other partners made the acquisition possible, ensuring the work remained in public ownership.
Today, people can see the painting at the Ulster Museum in Belfast, where it is displayed alongside artefacts from Armada shipwrecks. The acquisition shows how we help protect heritage across the UK, from historic artworks to archaeological collections, so that everyone can learn from and enjoy them.