Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Henry VIII, 1540

Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Henry VIII, 1540, oil on panel (Palazzo Barberini, Rome).

Please note: there have been questions raised as to whether this painting is by Holbein or his workshop, or perhaps a later copy; recent research suggests that it is an original Holbein.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• portraiture
• Smarthistory
• art history
• Northern Renaissance
• Hans Holbein
• 16h century

[Dredworld]

Wonderful review...thank you both.

[ZZZANNAMARIYZZZ]

Henry was too fat it made him very unattractive

[nodgie14]

What this video fails to mention is that although King Henry VIII, (who's vile life and ego might be said to be typified by the Act of Supremacy), probably thought this was an excellent portrait at the time... However, this portrait is nothing short of devastating. One can hardly look at it before feeling the urge to look elsewhere. Holbein captured his evil nature masterfully.

[2Touchstone]

I'm Henry the Eighth, I am...