Thomas Cranmer

Sitterback to top

• Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556), Archbishop of Canterbury. Sitter associated with 44 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Gerlach Flicke (active 1545-died 1558), Painter. Artist associated with 7 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

Cranmer holds the Epistles of St Paul, and on the table are two books, one of which appears to be St Augustine's Of faith and works. This portrait was painted by the German artist Gerlach Flicke, who was working in England between 1545 and 1558. Recent analysis using infrared reflectography has revealed that several changes were made to the composition during both the planning stages and the painting process. The same technique also revealed the word 'rot' (the German for red) written beneath the paint layers on the red cushion at the lower right of the painting.

Related worksback to top

• NPG D14855: Thomas Cranmer (after)
• NPG D41893: Thomas Cranmer (after)

Linked publicationsback to top

• Audio Guide
• Tudor Portraits Resource Pack, p. 14
• Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 19
• Cooper, Tarnya; Fraser, Antonia (foreword), A Guide to Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 2012, p. 43
• Gittings, Clare, The National Portrait Gallery Book of The Tudors, 2006, p. 19
• John Cooper, National Portrait Gallery Visitor's Guide, 2006, p. 19
• MacLeod, Catharine, Tudor Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery Collection, 1996, p. 14
• Piper, David, The English Face, 1992, p. 42
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 34
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 34
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 151
• Strong, Roy, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, p. 54

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Carpets and textiles
• Chairs
• Hats and head-attire
• On display at the Gallery
• Reading
• Tudors and Elizabethans tour