King Henry VIII
(1491-1547), Reigned 1509-47Sitter associated with 98 portraits
Henry VIII succeeded his father Henry VII to the throne in 1509. He is well known for his six marriages, and for ordering the dissolution of religious houses which took place between 1535-39. Aided by his ministers, Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell, his reign was characterised by ambition abroad and ruthlessness at home, firmly establishing the Tudor family as the ruling dynasty in England. His quest for a male heir and a divorce from his first wife Katherine of Aragon, led to his establishing himself as head of the Church in England in place of the Pope in 1535.
More on King Henry VIII: Tudor & Jacobean Portraits book in our Shops | Monarchs range in our Shops | Kings & Queens range in our Shops
Explore the Staffordshire Potteries portrait of King Henry VIII (NPG D48089) from all angles | the portrait of King Henry VIII and his Six Wives (NPG D48093) from all angles
Watch a film clip on the sitter in the Media section below
by Francis Delaram
line engraving, published 1618
NPG D9460
by Francis Delaram
line engraving, published 1618
NPG D9461
by Francis Delaram
line engraving, published 1618
NPG D9462
by Magdalena de Passe, or by Willem de Passe
line engraving, published 1620
NPG D9451
by Magdalena de Passe, or by Willem de Passe
line engraving, published 1620
NPG D9455
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D9453
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D9454
after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1628
NPG D9452
by Thomas Cecill
line engraving, published 1630
NPG D9456
by Thomas Cecill
line engraving, published 1630
NPG D9457
probably by William Faithorne
line engraving, circa 1640
NPG D22810
by Peter Isselburg (Yselburg, Eisselburg), after Cornelis Metsys (Massys)
line engraving, 1646
NPG D24927
by Peter Isselburg (Yselburg, Eisselburg), after Cornelis Metsys (Massys)
line engraving, 1646
NPG D9450
King Henry VIII and Thomas Cranmer
by Robert White
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D24146
possibly by Robert White, after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D24149
probably by Gaspar Bouttats, after Hans Holbein the Younger
etching and line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D33366
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably late 17th century
NPG D9449
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1672
NPG D22783
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1672
NPG D22784
King Henry VII; King Henry VIII; King Edward VI
after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1677
NPG D34139
Related People
- Anne Boleyn (wife)
- Anne of Cleves (wife)
- Arthur, Prince of Wales (brother)
- Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby (grandmother)
- Catherine Howard (wife)
- King Edward VI (son)
- Queen Elizabeth I (daughter)
- Elizabeth of York (mother)
- King Henry VII (father)
- Jane Seymour (wife)
- Katherine of Aragon (wife)
- Katherine Parr (wife)
- Margaret Tudor (sister)
- Queen Mary I (daughter)
- Mary Tudor (sister)
- Henry Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset (son)
Links
- Apethorpe Palace, Northamptonshire
- Calshot Castle, Hampshire
- Camber Castle, East Sussex
- Christ Church, Oxford, Oxfordshire
- Deal Castle, Kent
- Hampton Court Palace, East Moseley, Surrey
- Hever Castle, Edenbridge, Kent
- Hurst Castle, Hampshire
- King Henry VIII in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Pendennis Castle, Cornwall
- Portland Castle, Dorset
- St Catherine's Castle, Cornwall
- St James' Palace, London
- St Mawes Castle, Cornwall
- Tilbury Fort, Essex
- Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire
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.
Related pages
- Making History: Printed Portraiture in Tudor and Stuart Britain
- Henry VIII Remembered
- Picturing History: A portrait set of early English kings and queens
- Henry VIII and versions of the non-Holbein portraits
- Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Art Conservation Project
- Tudor pick up guides
- Director's Trail by Nicholas Cullinan
- Kings and Queens: A Family tree
- NPG D48089 in 360°
- NPG D48093 in 360°
- Tudor and Elizabethan matching pairs
- Loans to the National Gallery