The Art Of the Tudors
The Lecture
King and Collector: Henry VIII and the Art of Kingship
No English king is as well-known to us as Henry VIII. He is famous for six marriages, breaking with the Pope, dissolving the monasteries and creating the Church of England; and for his ruthless elimination of those who stood in his way. But he was also an enthusiastic patron of the arts whose palaces, tapestries and paintings enriched the Tudor court and began the Royal Collection. The forces that influenced Henry’s life can be seen in the works he commissioned, by artists such as Pietro Torrigiano, Hans Holbein and Giralomo da Treviso. They tell us much about his kingship and (unintentionally) his insecurities. Ultimately, each of the works contained some aspect of one central story: the glorification of Henry and his England.
Gloriana: Elizabeth I and the Art of Queenship
Elizabeth I is one of our greatest monarchs. The cult of ‘Gloriana’ revered her as a virgin goddess, while her image increasingly relied on glittering jewels, gowns, and accessories. In this lecture we will view Elizabeth’s queenship through paintings by artists Nicholas Hilliard and Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger. Art was a powerful device for royal magnificence and propaganda and Elizabeth knew how to use it.
By the time of her death, in 1603, few in England could remember a time when they were not Elizabethans and her long reign provided stability for the Arts to flourish.
The Speaker
Siobhan Clarke BA Hons has worked for Historic Royal Palaces for 20 years delivering tours and lectures on Hampton Court, Kensington, the Tower of London and the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace. Her experience includes education sessions and tours for schools, universities, corporate and private clients. She has lectured for the British Museum, National Trust, National Archives and the Smithsonian and featured on BBC Radio ‘Woman’s Hour’ and Television’s ‘Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace’.
Her published work includes: ‘A Tudor Christmas’, in collaboration with Alison Weir, (2018), ‘The Tudors: The Crown, The Dynasty, The Golden Age’ with Linda Collins (2019), ‘King and Collector: Henry VIII and the Art of Kingship’ (2021) and ‘Gloriana: Elizabeth I and the Art of Queenship’ (2022).