Joan Tuckfield

This is one of the earliest paintings at RAMM. Joan (1506-73) was the wife of John Tuckfield, an Exeter merchant, alderman, and member of the Exeter Society of Merchant Adventurers. He was Sheriff in 1547 and Mayor from 1549 to 50.

Joan’s serious expression reflects the fashion of the time where sitters were portrayed without a smile. Symbolism of rank and status in society was of more importance than a sitter’s character.

Joan is depicted in a gown of scarlet and black woollen cloth, perhaps woven locally. The rigid, conical shape of her bodice was achieved by wearing stays (a stiffened bodice). Joan’s small ruff is fastened by a pair of tasseled strings. Around her waist is an embroidered belt.

She wears a gable hood, named after the architectural feature its shape resembles. This style of headdress was introduced during the reign of Henry VII. The black velvet has been pinned up in two loops, rather than left hanging at the back.

A small gold brooch is pinned at her breast, either set with stones or decorated enamel. The plainer rings on her left hand are guard rings, worn partly to protect her more precious jewelry.

Many surviving 16th-sixteenth century portraits have undergone later restorations or alterations. Joan’s image has been over-painted. Viewing under a raking light (from the side) shows the presence of a stand collar and alterations to the upper part of her bodice underneath the uppermost layer of paint.

Portrait research by Stephen Price for the ‘Eye to Eye Project’ in 2006.

You can buy a high-quality print of this work from Art UK.

Visual description: an oil portrait of a middle-age woman in 16th century clothing. She is wearing a scarlet and black gown with a rigid, conical-shaped bodice and a small white ruff. On her head, there is a black gable hood trimmed with pearls. She holds her hands in front of the embroidered gold belt encircling her waist. Two fingers on her left hand are adorned with rings and there is a small gold brooch pinned at her breast.