King and Collector: Henry VIII and the Art of Kingship

No English king is as well-known to us as Henry VIII – famous for his six marriages, for dissolving the monasteries and creating the Church of England, and for the ruthless destruction of anyone who stood in his way.

But Henry was also an ardent patron of the arts, whose magnificent tapestries and paintings adorned his lavish court and began the Royal Collection. In contrast to later royal collectors, Henry was more interested in storytelling than art for its own sake, and all his commissions relate to one central tale: the glorification of the king and his realm.

Henry’s life can be seen through his collection and the works reveal much about both his kingship and his insecurities. King and Collector tells this unique story of art and power, peeling back the layers of propaganda to show the true face of this most notorious of Tudor monarchs.