This portrait is believed to have been painted by Rowland Lockey in the late 1500s. Francois de Lorraine was a French nobleman and the uncle of Mary Queen of Scots.

Francois de Lorraine (late 1500s)

What Clues does the Portrait Contain?

• In this portrait we can see Francois wearing a fashionable doublet jacket and a pair of hose that look a little bit like shorts.
• Hose were often stuffed with straw as padding to make the gentleman's legs look more muscular. 
• If you look closely at his hat, you will see that it is decorated with is an ostrich feather, which tells us that he had a lot of money because this would have been imported from overseas.

Francois de Lorraine (detail)

• How is Francois dressed differently from Henry, Lord Darnley? Did you notice that he is not wearing a ruff? This is because ruffs had not yet become fashionable in France.
• Can you seen any similarities between the portraits? Like Lord Darnley and Henry VIII, Francois also carries a sword. Men wore swords to show that they were skilled in swordplay and that they had taken part in battles. 

Francois de Lorraine (detail)

Glossary

Muscular - strong, visible muscles

Nobleman - someone who, in the past, had a title and power over how the country was run

Ostrich - large bird which comes from Africa and cannot fly

Similarities - things that are the same