Andrew Appel on England, the Tudors, and Henry VIII; Retrospect

Reading:

Murray pp. 251-262

Images: set number rt223-14 Image Database

Holbein. Henry VIII. 1539-40
Holbein. Jane Seymour. 1536
Holbein. The French Ambassadors. 1533

Summary: Andrew set up the background around Henry VIII, stressing his importance as the founder of the Anglican church. He talked about the form of architectural patronage, and showed how the number and form of Henry's palaces, as well as their decoration with tapestries, expressed the king's public image. The size, flamboyance, and ostentation of those palaces is a good key to what Henry was interested in. Andrew also talked about Holbein as a court portraitist, and showed several comparisons that helped to illuminate what the court style was, for men, and for women, as well for theking. Then he compared this style to that of the French Ambassadors, and came up with several themes in the painting, as well as giving us some background information that may help to explain the work.

Terms:

anamorphosis

Patrons:

Henry VIII of England
Jean de Dinteville & Georges de Selve (the ambassadors)

Artists:

Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543)