Sinope, Queen of Armenia – Portrait by Lambert Barnard, 1526

This panel depicting Armenian Queen Sinope is one of the eight surviving panels, a part of the decorative scheme of the Amberley Castle, the onetime residence of Chichester bishops. The panel created by Lambert Barnard in ca. 1526 is now showcased in Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, UK.

The collection of Amberley panels is comprised of allegorical portraits of women with gentle smiles which bring Mona Lisa to mind. The panels tell us the quite popular stories of nine virtuous ladies. These women have been remarkable for their dignity and courage they have demonstrated in the face of danger.

The heroines wear 1500s-specific heavy golden necklaces as well as gowns of either red velvet or black and gold woven damask. Each of the heroines wields a weapon, her symbol, or a heraldic shield.

The Amberley collection now includes 8 extant panels. Each of the panels is made from oak wood and measures 155 by 86 centimeters. Successfully recovered in 1864, these works of Lambert Barnard are rare examples of English provincial art of the 16th century.

Painted by Barnard in a mixture of oil and egg tempera, these panels have been created to form the decorative scheme of the Amberley Castle. The panels have been commissioned by Robert Sherborne, the Bishop of Chichester at the time. Sherborne thought that the panels would mark the visit of Henry VIII of England in 1526.

(c) Pallant House Gallery; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation
Vigen Avetisyan

Recent Posts

If Yerevan Falls Silent: What Would and Would Not Change for the Recognition of the Armenian Genocide

In brief. Suppose the Armenian authorities deliberately take the Genocide off the agenda. The historical…

1 day ago

Why Baku Promotes “Western Azerbaijan”: Historical Propaganda, Coercion and the Risk of Escalation

By Vigen Avetisyan. Data as of October 29, 2026. In brief. As a scholarly concept,…

4 days ago

“Ancient Azerbaijan” and “Armenians from India”: Anatomy of a Propaganda Narrative

By Vigen Avetisyan In brief. The claim that present-day Armenia is “historical Azerbaijan” and that…

5 days ago

Shenatagh: Iron Age Tombs Beneath a Syunik Courtyard — and a Heritage Route from Sisian to Tatev

Archaeology · Travel · Syunik, Armenia — October 28, 2026 A routine groundwork job in…

6 days ago

The History of Armenian Coinage and Money: From Ancient Times to the Dram

From weighed silver and Achaemenid-era imports to the kings of Sophene, the coins of Tigranes…

1 week ago

Weapons of the Armenian Highland: From the First Swords to the Age of Firearms

Military history series · Armenian Highland, 4th millennium BCE – 18th century CE Introduction: why…

1 week ago