Sir Thomas More
(1478-1535), Lord Chancellor; classical scholar; author of 'Utopia'; saint; canonised 1935Sitter associated with 54 portraits
Humanist scholar and author of Utopia, which aimed to encourage the reform of English politics. The dialogues satirised European society and included the famous description of the newly discovered island of Utopia - a name derived from the Greek for 'nowhere'. The argument that statesmen need to adopt an indirect approach in order to steer policy, in a manner 'that adapts itself to the play in hand', is one of the defining precepts of humanist political philosophy. More became Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor in 1529. He opposed the King's divorce from Katherine of Aragon and refused to take the Oath of Supremacy, which acknowledged Henry as head of the Church of England. He was executed for treason in 1535 and canonised by the Catholic Church in 1935.
after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, published 1817
NPG D5295
after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, published 1817
NPG D5296
after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, published 1817
NPG D5297
after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, published 1817
NPG D5298
by James Thomson (Thompson), published by Harding, Mavor & Lepard, after William Derby, after Hans Holbein the Younger
stipple and line engraving, published 24 December 1823
NPG D39005
King Henry VIII and Sir Thomas More
by John Shury
line engraving, published 1825
NPG D24308
by Thomas Anthony Dean, published by William Pickering, after Hans Holbein the Younger
stipple engraving, published 1829
NPG D24316
by Gaspar Sensi, supervised by José de Madrazo y Agudo, printed by Real Establecimiento Litográfico, after Sir Peter Paul Rubens, after Hans Holbein the Younger
lithograph, circa 1830s
NPG D39010
Pope Pius XI (Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti) (on obverse); Sir Thomas More; John Fisher
by Aurelio Mistruzzi
bronze medal, 1935
NPG D7201
after Hans Holbein the Younger
chromolithograph, late 20th century (circa 1526)
NPG D39001
after Hans Holbein the Younger
chromolithograph, late 20th century (circa 1527)
NPG D39002
after Hans Holbein the Younger
chromolithograph, 1978 or before (circa 1526)
NPG D38963
by Renold or Reginold Elstrack (Elstracke), published by Compton Holland
line engraving, published circa 1618-1619
NPG D19782
by Jacobus Houbraken, after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, 1740
NPG D19687
Related People
- Margaret Clements (née Giggs) (daughter)
- Elizabeth Dauncey (née More) (daughter)
- Cecily Heron (née More) (daughter)
- Alice More (née Middleton) (wife)
- Anne More (née Cresacre) (daughter)
- Sir John More (father)
- John More (son)
- Thomas More II (grandson)
- Margaret Roper (daughter)
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