Went to a wonderful exhibition today about Henry VIII - at the British Library. The Library is well worth a visit. It's a very 'user-friendly' - place.
I'm very interested in historical portraits, many of which, in this exhibition, hadn't been seen before, and almost like looking through a family's photo album - you can put a face to Henry's parents, siblings, his wives, of course - and many other important personages in this period. (You can also check on family resemblances!)
There are love letters from Henry to Anne Boleyn and many historical documents and artefacts to browse. Politically this was not an easy time in which to live, with strong religious differences from north to south, but my interest lay in the creative side of their lives and I found the costume detail in the paintings just as fascinating as the actual history.
I'm very interested in historical portraits, many of which, in this exhibition, hadn't been seen before, and almost like looking through a family's photo album - you can put a face to Henry's parents, siblings, his wives, of course - and many other important personages in this period. (You can also check on family resemblances!)
There are love letters from Henry to Anne Boleyn and many historical documents and artefacts to browse. Politically this was not an easy time in which to live, with strong religious differences from north to south, but my interest lay in the creative side of their lives and I found the costume detail in the paintings just as fascinating as the actual history.
Catherine of Aragon - divorced - (but not according to some!) Mother of Queen Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary).
Catherine was married to Henry for 24 yrs.
Anne Boleyn - married - (but not according to others!) - beheaded (poor thing) - Mother of Queen Elizabeth I
Jane Seymour - bore him the son Henry wanted, Edward, but she died shortly after the prince was born.
Anne of Cleves - Henry didn't like her one bit and kindly set her up in another palace -a goodlie distance away!
Kathryn Howard - was rather flirty - beheaded too.
Katherine Parr - she seemed to give him some stability and outlived him.More info. on The Wives
Elizabethan Embroidery link 1.
Elizabethan Embroidery Link 2.
