King and Collector: Henry VIII and the Art of Kingship
About this ebook
No English king is as well-known to us as Henry VIII – famous for his six marriages, for dissolving the monasteries and for the ruthless destruction of his foes. 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 the Tudor monarch.
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About the author
The authors each have other twenty years of experience at Historic Royal Palaces and both appeared on PBS's Secrets of Henry VIII's Palace. Linda Collins holds a BA in early Italian art and an MA in the works of Georges de La Tour. She is an accredited lecturer for the Arts Society. Siobhan Clarke is a historian and lecturer. She has written for BBC History Magazine and featured on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.
