References: http://www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/making-art-in-tudor-britain/workshops/workshop-2-abstract-3.php
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| Katherine Parr 6th wife of Henry the 8th |
This painting is the one I was most drawn to. I loved her dress and the fur around the sleeves. Katherine was the 6th and final wife of Henry the eighth. She was 31 when she married the king and was already a widow twice over. She unfortunately only outlived Henry the eighth by one year, dying at child birth to her first born child with her fourth husband Thomas Seymour. I loved how the description described her as helping improve the lives of the Kings children. I feel like she must have been a very loving and strong woman to do that and I liked reading that part. She looks calm and kind and beautiful in this painting. She also looks strong like she is ready to take on her new role as Queen.
On my first glance at this painting, Katherine looks young. She has youthful Alabaster skin and pinkish cheeks. Her headdress looks youthful on her too because it looks like she has long hair covered at the back and she has small dainty hands. She isn't over dressed but her dress does look very detailed and embellished. The fabric looks heavy with detailed embroidery. Fur to me would signify wealth and royalty as it reminds me of the same fur Queen Elizabeth the first wore on her coronation. I also see that she is wearing a lot of jewels. She has a bejewelled ring on nearly every finger and two ruby and pearl necklaces on. She also has precious stones carried onto her headdress. She also had a girdle accessorising her waist with jewels for decoration. With all of these jewels on display, the artist was definitely trying to signify Katherine as a royal monarch. There isn't much going on in the way of props. It's interesting that Katherine isn't holding anything or that she doesn't have anything around her. My first thought was that the artist was trying to not take away from Katherine in this portrait but to make her the sole subject of this image. He also could have been in a hurry to finish it and kept it simple.
The only information I could find on the artist was that his name was Master John. Not much was known about him but I did find out that he had painted the 2 paintings I was drawn to which is interesting. The painting was painted in 1545 2 years after she married Henry the VIII. X-rays have been taken of the painting and it showed an outline of something near her hand which would indicate that he was going to paint something in her hand but didn't. It isn't known why this is the case. It is said however that for a long time everyone thought this was Lady Jane Grey but due to the crown like necklace in the painting and this found on the list of things belonging to Katherine Parr it was found to be Katherine Parr as Queen. The date was signified from the wood on the frame.
I also found out that crowns featured in paintings symbolise royalty and that the use of red pigment and gold and silver leaf were also signs of importance and class due to their expensive cost. Master John was known for using extensive amounts of gold and silver leaf and other expensive materials in his paintings which was also a sign of a British painter. This might confirm my theory that he didn't need other accessories to symbolise anything for Katherine's portrait. That her dress and accessories were enough to display what kind of woman she was.
I read also that Katherine had a very good relationship and that she took her responsibility as Queen and stepmother very seriously. She played a huge role in the lives of Henry's children and their education and cared for them as if they were her own. Henry apparently was attracted to her charm and intelligence and wanted a companion to share his bed and his heart. It was said that after his not so great reputation with his 5 ex-wives Henry was lonely and wanted someone that could fulfil all of his needs and Katherine apparently did this.
Photo's by me.
On my first glance at this painting, Katherine looks young. She has youthful Alabaster skin and pinkish cheeks. Her headdress looks youthful on her too because it looks like she has long hair covered at the back and she has small dainty hands. She isn't over dressed but her dress does look very detailed and embellished. The fabric looks heavy with detailed embroidery. Fur to me would signify wealth and royalty as it reminds me of the same fur Queen Elizabeth the first wore on her coronation. I also see that she is wearing a lot of jewels. She has a bejewelled ring on nearly every finger and two ruby and pearl necklaces on. She also has precious stones carried onto her headdress. She also had a girdle accessorising her waist with jewels for decoration. With all of these jewels on display, the artist was definitely trying to signify Katherine as a royal monarch. There isn't much going on in the way of props. It's interesting that Katherine isn't holding anything or that she doesn't have anything around her. My first thought was that the artist was trying to not take away from Katherine in this portrait but to make her the sole subject of this image. He also could have been in a hurry to finish it and kept it simple.
The only information I could find on the artist was that his name was Master John. Not much was known about him but I did find out that he had painted the 2 paintings I was drawn to which is interesting. The painting was painted in 1545 2 years after she married Henry the VIII. X-rays have been taken of the painting and it showed an outline of something near her hand which would indicate that he was going to paint something in her hand but didn't. It isn't known why this is the case. It is said however that for a long time everyone thought this was Lady Jane Grey but due to the crown like necklace in the painting and this found on the list of things belonging to Katherine Parr it was found to be Katherine Parr as Queen. The date was signified from the wood on the frame.
I also found out that crowns featured in paintings symbolise royalty and that the use of red pigment and gold and silver leaf were also signs of importance and class due to their expensive cost. Master John was known for using extensive amounts of gold and silver leaf and other expensive materials in his paintings which was also a sign of a British painter. This might confirm my theory that he didn't need other accessories to symbolise anything for Katherine's portrait. That her dress and accessories were enough to display what kind of woman she was.
I read also that Katherine had a very good relationship and that she took her responsibility as Queen and stepmother very seriously. She played a huge role in the lives of Henry's children and their education and cared for them as if they were her own. Henry apparently was attracted to her charm and intelligence and wanted a companion to share his bed and his heart. It was said that after his not so great reputation with his 5 ex-wives Henry was lonely and wanted someone that could fulfil all of his needs and Katherine apparently did this.
Photo's by me.
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| Katherine Parr Description |
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| Another Painting of Master John of Mary I as a princess. |
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