Hans Holbein - part 4) Portrait of infant Prince Edward

Video on Hans Holbein the Younger's portrait of the infant prince Edward, later Edward VI of England. Edward was the son and heir of Henry VIII by his third wife, Jane Seymour. Underneath his portrait there is an inscription reading (translation from Latin): 'Little one, emulate your father and be the heir of his virtue; the world contains nothing greater. Heaven and earth could scarcely produce a son whose glory would surpass that of such a father. Only equal the deeds of your parent and men can wish for no more. Surpass him and you have surpassed all the kings the world ever revered and none will surpass you'. The inscription was devised by the humanist Richard Morison (c.1510-56).

Edward was about fourteen months old at the time of this portrait. He is depicted almost as a mini Henry and as rather serene for a toddler. Holbein wishes to emphasise Edward's majesty and show Henry that he has a son destined for greatness. The portrait was given to Henry as a New Year's Gift in 1539; in return Holbein was given a silver cup.

Copies of this painting exist. The British Library currently holds either a genuine or copy version of this portrait in their exhibit on Henry VIII that is definitely worth seeing. This version is usually housed in the Berger collection at the Denver Art Museum. An almost identical version of the same painting can be found at the National Gallery of Art, Washington (and it is this one that is shown in the clip).

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Hans
• Holbein
• the
• Younger
• Henry
• VIII
• prince
• Edward
• VI
• Jane
• Seymour
• portrait
• art
• sixteenth
• century
• 1530s
• infant
• propaganda
• royal
• supremacy
• Jonathan
• Foyle

[Hippodameia]

Not really. "Whore" would imply that Catherine and Mary were loose women, which they were not. Mary was also neither a pig nor a dog; she was a human. And although she probably bathed once every few years, manners books at that time dictated that a woman of her status would have to keep her face, hands, and nails clean, and she would certainly have followed those rules of propriety. So really, the only plausible adjective that stands is "papist." Indeed, both Mary and Catherine were papists.

[12from12]

I think alot of these views reflect modern thinking rather than what was really going on.

[ASilvershade]

This poor boy died an agonising death - trapped between his fathers shadow and the manuverings of the privy council, I really feel for him.

[FragileThings331]

& the team Aragon Vs. Team Boleyn battle hits a new low, yeah! Please tell your a Seymour person! Team Boleyn does not need this.

[Hippodameia]

Do you have any evidence suggesting that Catherine promised her vagina to Pope Clement VII? I find it difficult to believe, as she was already promised to Henry (and not just her vagina, mind you). I'm sure her vagina was unwashed, as was every other woman's, but I'm not sure if it was foul. Henry abandoned Catherine because she apparently was unable to produce him a son, not because of her dirty vagina. She also did remain true to her marriage vows, refusing to relinquish them before death.

[peymaania]

Nice try with your pseudo logic!Nevertheless she promised her foul unwashed pussy to the pope in Rome,

and that's why Henry VIII had the good

sense to get rid of this stinking Spanish Slut!

[Catalina1485]

I will agree with you on that one