King Henry VII

Sitterback to top

• King Henry VII (1457-1509), Reigned 1485-1509. Sitter associated with 62 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Unknown Flemish artist. Artist of 3 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This impressive portrait is the earliest painting in the National Portrait Gallery's collection. The inscription records that the portrait was painted on 29 October 1505 by order of Herman Rinck, an agent for the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I. The portrait was probably painted as part of an unsuccessful marriage proposal, as Henry hoped to marry Maximilian's daughter Margaret of Savoy as his second wife.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Audio Guide
• Tudor Portraits Resource Pack, p. 8
• I-Spy National Portrait Gallery, 2010, p. 5
• Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 12
• Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 4
• Cooper, Tarnya; Fraser, Antonia (foreword), A Guide to Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 2012, p. 27
• Gittings, Clare, The National Portrait Gallery Book of The Tudors, 2006, p. 4
• John Cooper, National Portrait Gallery Visitor's Guide, 2006, p. 12
• MacLeod, Catharine, Tudor Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery Collection, 1996, p. 8
• Piper, David, The English Face, 1992, p. 24
• Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 26
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 32
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 32
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 296
• Simon, Jacob, The Art of the Picture Frame: Artists, Patrons and the Framing of Portraits in Britain, 1997 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 8 November 1996 - 9 February 1997), p. 31
• Strong, Roy, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, p. 149
• Williamson, David, The National Portrait Gallery: History of the Kings and Queens of England, 1998, p. 85
• Williamson, David, Kings and Queens, 2010, p. 84

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Flowers and plants
• Hats and head-attire
• Kings and Queens tour
• On display at the Gallery
• Tudors and Elizabethans tour