Lot Essay
The double portrait of Edwin Sandys and his wife is after the painting of 1571 now at Bishopsthorpe Palace, York, to whom it was given by Jordan Sandys in 1721. Other portraits of the sitters are in the collection of Lord Sandys at Ombersley, and a bust length double portrait is in the National Portrait Gallery, no. 1268 (see R. Strong, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, Text, P.275-6, Plates, 543, 544, and J. Ingamells, The Episcopal Portrait 1559-1835: A Catalogue, 1981, pp.345-7, pl.240, for the various versions).
Edwin Sandys (?1516-1588) took Holy Orders in 1549 and became a canon of Peterborough. He was made Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University in 1553, but had to resign from the post when he was imprisoned in the Tower for his support of Lady Jane Grey's claim to the throne. He was released in 1554 and spent many months travelling on the Continent. On the death of Queen Mary he returned to England and was appointed to the see of Worcester; he was consecrated on 21 December 1559, and remained there until 1570 when he became Bishop of London. In 1577 he was made Archbishop of York, a post he held until his death in 1588. He Married Cecilia or Cicely, daughter of Sir Thomas Wilford of Cranbrook as his second wife; they had seven sons and two daughters. Their eldest son was Sir Samuel Sandys (1569-1623), the sitter in the second portrait, who inherited the Manor of Ombersley in Worcestershire, and was Sheriff of the County, as well as a Member of Parliament. His wife was Mercy, only daughter of Martin Culpeper or Colpeper; they had several children, the eldest of whom, Edwin, inherited the estates after the death of his father on 18 August 1623.
Edwin Sandys (?1516-1588) took Holy Orders in 1549 and became a canon of Peterborough. He was made Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University in 1553, but had to resign from the post when he was imprisoned in the Tower for his support of Lady Jane Grey's claim to the throne. He was released in 1554 and spent many months travelling on the Continent. On the death of Queen Mary he returned to England and was appointed to the see of Worcester; he was consecrated on 21 December 1559, and remained there until 1570 when he became Bishop of London. In 1577 he was made Archbishop of York, a post he held until his death in 1588. He Married Cecilia or Cicely, daughter of Sir Thomas Wilford of Cranbrook as his second wife; they had seven sons and two daughters. Their eldest son was Sir Samuel Sandys (1569-1623), the sitter in the second portrait, who inherited the Manor of Ombersley in Worcestershire, and was Sheriff of the County, as well as a Member of Parliament. His wife was Mercy, only daughter of Martin Culpeper or Colpeper; they had several children, the eldest of whom, Edwin, inherited the estates after the death of his father on 18 August 1623.