Here’s a portrait of Richard II that isn’t seen very often, except perhaps head and shoulders—possibly because of the figure of Ralph, 1st Lord Lumley kneeling before him. Richard’s likeness seems to be a copy of his famous portrait in Westminster Abbey, but this one hangs in Leeds Castle. I think it rather striking not only for Lord Lumley daring to intrude but because of Richard’s beautifully flowing carnation-pink robe.
Mind you, it may not actually be pink, because depending upon which site you go to, it can also be a rather fetching shade of lilac! Not that there was lilac in England in the 14th century.
Richard’s fondest thoughts of Leeds Castle would probably be of the winter of 1381, because his bride Anne of Bohemia stayed there for Christmas on her way to marry him. The young couple fell deeply in love and he gave Leeds Castle to her when she became his queen. His heart was broken when she died suddenly at the age of only 28, on 7 June 1394.
I don’t know if there is any connection between Leeds Castle and Lord Lumley, whose family was centred at Lumley Castle in Chester-le-Street. He was Richard’s staunch friend and supporter, and is in the portrait, albeit suitably smaller than the monarch and very deferential. He would eventually pay with his life for his loyalty to Richard because he supported the failed Epiphany Rising against the usurpation of Henry IV. In the portrait he seems to be considerably older than Richard, even though there were only about seven years between them.
It is perhaps not surprising that Ralph cleaved so close to Richard II, because he was half-Holand. His mother, Margaret Holand, was the aunt of Richard II’s Holand half-brothers, which meant he was first cousin to John Holand, 1st Earl of Huntington (whom Henry IV demoted from Duke of Exeter) who was executed without trial when the Rising failed. Ralph was also first cousin once removed to Thomas Holand, 3rd Earl of Kent (demoted from Duke of Surrey), who paid the same grim price as John. The two Holands were the offspring of Joan of Kent‘s first marriage, and she was Richard II’s mother. Richard’s father, as we all know, was Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, the “Black Prince”. So Ralph, Lord Lumley, was close to the throne in blood as well as loyalty and friendship.
His is not one of the names that springs to mind when it comes to Richard’s circle, but there he is in this portrait, recorded forever at the feet of his king.
murreyandblue 
Was this portrait supposed to commemorate the Lumley who served Richard II in the 14th century or the 16th century Lord Lumley who commissioned the portrait? I supposed we’ll never know now. I do have to wonder what condition the Westminster portrait of Richard was in to get the odd colored robes in the later portraits! (Of course, they may have been repainted in later centuries. Apparently Richard’s portrait was repainted in the 18th century and who knows when else?)
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I forgot to add that apparently the Elizabethan Lord Lumley ordered a number of portraits of his ancestors painted. When King James I (James VI of Scotland) visited Lumley’s gallery he is alleged to have remarked “Ah dinna ken Adam’s name was Lumley!”
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