The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This panel requires restoration although it is basically quite healthy. The reverse has been cradled; three of the corners except for the lower left have been damaged. There are a few visible losses, one in the chin of the figure and a couple in the background. There are a few restored losses, in the background particularly, but the face and the figure seem to be in very presentable condition. There are some old slightly blistered areas to the paint layer which have most likely been restored but which are not visible under ultraviolet light. Overall we are comfortable with the condition of the painting, although a fresh campaign of retouching and stabilization will improve the picture.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Queen Mary I of England, infamously nicknamed 'Bloody Mary,' the fourth crowned monarch of the Tudor dynasty and first daughter of Henry VIII, was most famous for her brutal persecution of Protestants.

In either the spring or summer of 1554, Mor went to London to paint the Queen.  That portrait, signed and dated 1554, in which the Queen wears the same headress, hairstyle, and necklace as in the present work, now hangs in the Prado Museum, Madrid (inv. no. I.446).  Another smaller-scale, bust-length copy of Mor's portrait of Queen Mary is in the Budapest Museum (inv. no. 375).  That portrait, which is most similar to the present portrait, was painted as a pendant to the portrait of Phillip II, whom Mary wed on July 24, 1554. 

Another derivation of Mor's portrait of Queen Mary was recently sold, London, Sotheby's, June 6, 2007, lot 🐻2, for £43,200.