What are the HIDDEN MESSAGES within this famous painting of Henry VIII and his children and how has it been misunderstood in the centuries since it was created? Painted in around 1545 and entitled The Family of Henry VIII, this is one of the few pictures of Henry VIII and his children (any of them) and is the earliest surviving image of Elizabeth I before she was queen. It is crammed full of symbolism, most of which is lost on a modern audience. From the dynastic reasons for its creation, to the placement of the individuals within it and even the clothing and famous royal jewels worn by its sitters, there is a mountain of information to be gleaned about the family and court of Henry VIII.

The painting has raised a number of questions too, some of which have been answered, some not. The woman next to Henry has caused much confusion for instance, as historians have debated which Tudor Queen she is; Jane Seymour or Catherine Parr? Jane was dead by the time of the painting’s commission, while Catherine was alive and married to Henry and yet the woman looks strikingly like Jane. If it is her, why were dead people put in paintings? As for the artist, their name is unknown, though for many years it was assumed to be Hans Holbein the Younger. He can be ruled out for several reasons though and in this Tudors documentary from History Calling, I’ll tell you what they are, as well as answering the other questions (as far as is possible) that this painting has raised. I’ll also discuss its provenance, explaining what happened to it between the time it was completed and presented to Henry VIII and today, when it may be found in Hampton Court Palace as one of the many paintings in the royal collection. This will include a discussion of what happened to Charles I’s art collection at the time of the interregnum, when this painting along with countless others, was sold off to the highest bidder. Please enjoy this video on one of the most famous pictures of Henry VIII and his children.

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Thumbnail: Family of Henry VIII, c. 1545. Royal Collection Trust, 2022 (detail)

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