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.
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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
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by John Faber Jr, after Hans Holbein the Younger
mezzotint, early 18th century
NPG D24140
by John Faber Sr, after Hans Holbein the Younger
mezzotint, early 18th century
NPG D24142
by John Faber Sr
mezzotint, early 18th century
NPG D24143
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably 18th century
NPG D24151
after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, probably 18th century
NPG D24155
by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after Edward Lutterell (Luttrell)
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D24160
by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after Edward Lutterell (Luttrell)
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D24161
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably 18th century
NPG D24162
'PROGNOSTICATION FAITE A ROME A UN AMBASSADEUR DU ROY D'ANGLETEREE, HENRY VII'
after Unknown artist
line engraving, perhaps 18th century
NPG D24166
by John Faber Sr, after Hans Holbein the Younger
mezzotint, early 18th century
NPG D30031
by John Faber Sr, after Hans Holbein the Younger
mezzotint, early 18th century
NPG D30032
by Henry Hulsbergh (Hulsberg)
line engraving, probably early 18th century
NPG D9459
by Gerard Valck, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, 1707
NPG D24163
by John Faber Sr, after Hans Holbein the Younger
mezzotint, 1712
NPG D9258
by John Faber Sr, after Hans Holbein the Younger
mezzotint, 1714
NPG D24141
The Sovereigns of England, part 2
by John Carwitham, printed and published by Richard Caldwell, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1723-1741
NPG D34142
King Henry VIII presiding over the Ceremonies of the Order of the Garter for the year 1534
by Joseph Sympson (Simpson)
line engraving, circa 1724
NPG D24168
King Henry VIII; Thomas Cranmer
by Philip Simms
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D9464
by Johann David Schleuen
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D24147
by James Hulett, after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D24148
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
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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