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.
More on Sir Thomas More: Tudor & Jacobean Portraits book in our Shops
Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
after Hans Holbein the Younger
oil on panel, early 17th century, based on a work of 1527
NPG 4358
after Hans Holbein the Younger
oil on panel, late 16th century, based on a work of 1527
NPG 3543
after Hans Holbein the Younger
oil on panel, late 16th century, based on a work of 1527
NPG 306
Sir Thomas More, his father, his household and his descendants
by Rowland Lockey, after Hans Holbein the Younger
oil on canvas, 1593
NPG 2765
after Hans Holbein the Younger
albumen print, (circa 1527)
NPG D39011
after Hans Holbein the Younger
red tonal carbon print, (circa 1527)
NPG D39012
Sir Thomas More, his father, his household and his descendants
after Rowland Lockey, after Hans Holbein the Younger
gelatin silver print, (1593-1594)
NPG D39014
by Lucas Vorsterman
line engraving, probably 17th century
NPG D24946
by Magdalena de Passe, or by Willem de Passe
line engraving, 1620
NPG D24948
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D35485
Unknown man called Sir Thomas More
by Lucas Vorsterman, after (Claude) Corneille de Lyon
etching, 1631
NPG D9866
after Unknown artist
woodcut, published 1684
NPG D23930
by Pieter Stevens van Gunst, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, 1697
NPG D24313
by Pieter Stevens van Gunst, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, 1697
NPG D39007
by Pieter Stevens van Gunst, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, 1697
NPG D18783
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably 18th century
NPG D24310
by George Vertue, after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, engraved 1725
NPG D19798
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, published 1741
NPG D39003
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)
Tell us more back to top
Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.
If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.
Please note that we cannot provide valuations.
We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
Thematic collections
- Tudor and Elizabethan portraits
- Portraits featuring - Necklace
- Portraits featuring - Chain
- Portraits featuring - Brooch
- Portraits featuring - Ring
- Top selling prints
- Clocks and timepieces
- Reading
- Family
- Group portraits
- Best selling prints
- Top selling prints of paintings
- Tudor and Elizabethan prints
- Carpets and textiles
- Prints of paintings