King Edward VI and the Pope

Artistback to top

• Unknown artist. Artist associated with 6232 portraits.

Sittersback to top

• John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford (1486?-1555), Lord High Admiral. Sitter associated with 8 portraits.
• Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556), Archbishop of Canterbury. Sitter associated with 44 portraits.
• King Edward VI (1537-1553), Reigned 1547-53. Sitter associated with 45 portraits.
• King Henry VIII (1491-1547), Reigned 1509-47. Sitter associated with 90 portraits.
• John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland (1502?-1553), Lord Protector of Edward VI. Sitter associated with 5 portraits.
• Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset (1506?-1552), Known as 'The Protector'; statesman. Sitter associated with 14 portraits.

This portraitback to top

The painting was probably produced between 1568 and 1571, to commemorate the anti-papal policies of Edward VI and to celebrate the successful re-establishment of the Church of England under Elizabeth I. This painting shows Henry VIII on his deathbed (left), pointing towards his successor Edward VI. To the right of Edward are members of his council including the Protector, Lord Somerset, and John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. In the inset (top right) is a scene of the destruction of holy images, and below Edward, the Pope is crushed by 'the worde of the Lord' - written in English. The blank white spaces may have been intended for further anti-Catholic inscriptions

Linked publicationsback to top

• Audio Guide
• Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 20
• Cooper, Tarnya; Fraser, Antonia (foreword), A Guide to Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 2012, p. 5
• Gittings, Clare, The National Portrait Gallery Book of The Tudors, 2006, p. 15
• John Cooper, National Portrait Gallery Visitor's Guide, 2006, p. 20
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 41
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 41
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 719
• Strong, Roy, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, p. 294
• Strong, Roy, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, p. 344
• Strong, Roy, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, p. 21

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Bedrooms
• Books and libraries
• Carpets and textiles
• Chairs
• Children
• Crests and Coats of Arms
• Fur accessories
• Group portraits
• Hats and head-attire
• Lounging
• Words and inscriptions