From the Collection
From the Collection: Portrait of Henry VII of England Catherine Sawinski, Assistant Curator of European Art
English history can appear to be a long list of kings and queens with the same names. The queen that most of us are familiar with today is Queen Elizabeth II. The first and only other Queen Elizabeth ruled from 1558 to 1603. In the Museum’s Renaissance galleries—the fourth gallery you walk into as you follow the route through the first floor—you will find a small portrait that, according to the label, is of Henry VII of England. The painting shows a pale man with a rather blank expression, dressed in a black hat and red and yellow clothes, and wearing some jewelry. Not too exciting, especially with larger, splashier portraits like The Artist’s Sister Minerva Anguissola or Triple Profile Portrait nearby. But, passing over this little painting would mean missing out on a great story. Despite the modest appearance of the portrait, Henry VII was a king of England. He defeated Richard III in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth. Richard is famous for being a hunchback, power-hungry villain, rumored to have killed his two young nephews, who were rivals to the throne. (Although now we recognize that Richard was not so one-dimensional, that he was also courageous, a good administrator, and well-spoken.) Henry’s success at this battle ended an eighty-five-year-long civil war
this page Sofonisba Anguissola, The Artist’s Sister Minerva Anguissola, ca. 1564. Layton Art Collection Inc., Gift of the family of Mrs. Frederick Vogel Jr., L1952.1. Photo by John R. Glembin. following page Probably after Meynnart Weywyck, Henry VII of England, 1504/09. Bequest of Catherine Jean Quirk, M1989.63. Photo by P. Richard Eells.
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