Henry VII

-

 

    I researched Henry VII, ruler of England from 1485 to 1509. I choose the journal article titled, "The Henry VII in the National Portrait Gallery". My theme I am choosing is what is the role of political power in the relationship between individuals (the people) and the authority (the rulers)? 

   Henry VII, also called Henry Tudor was born on January 28th 1457 in Pembroke, Wales. Henry became king through inheritance and his slaying of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. He was then crowned as king in October. Henry VII married Elizabeth of York, daughter of the Yorkist king Edward IV of England. They had eight children together, but only four survived past childhood. It said that he was incredibly clever, which was well liked by the people. He died on April 21st 1509 due to tuberculosis. 

    I choose the portrait of King Henry VII by an unknown Netherlandish artist. Pained with oil on panel and finished in 1505. The Journal states, "Among the many important early pictures in the National Portrait Gallery The Portrait of Henry VII is certainly one of the finest" (). This unknown artist also painted 3 other portraits of John Bourchier, John Astley, and Sir Thomas Gresham. The article describes the portrait as "A small painting, with an arched top. The king is dressed in a cap and vest of black cloth and a gold brocade gown trimmed with ermine" (). 

    This portrait is held in the National Portrait Gallery of London and was purchased on 1876. 
Henry VII 
National Portrait Gallery, London
1505
I was quite interested in this portrait because of the fine detail to the oil painting. The journal comments on the detail stating, "The clever, even cunning features of the King are rendered in a most expressive manner, and all the details are painted with great delicacy and care"(). My theme for the semester plays into this ruler quite well, being that my theme analyzes the role of power between the people and authority. King Henry VII and his portrait affirms my theme by him being a the ruler of authority over the people.



*Not able to embed a video with my computer software for some reason.. 
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Modern Take on Machiavelli's The Prince

-
Image
 After reading The Prince  by Niccolo Machiavelli and then reading the many opinionated articles following the text, I choose to examine Erica Benner's article title "From Machiavelli's Prince: A New Reading". The main idea presented by Benner is the idea that Machiavelli was trying to restore good moral standards in politics or overall ruling. Benner states, "Machiavelli's Prince , I suggest, is a masterwork with ironic writing with a moral purpose" (Benner 300). She explains the two ideas Machiavelli is trying to get across, one being the idea of warning people of power of the danger of asserting total dictatorship over people who value their freedom. Benner then goes into the idea of Machiavelli., teaching ordinary citizens to reconginice the early warning signs of control-hungry behavior in their leaders, and to impress on them the need to establish political and military orders that can keep tyranny at bay" (Benner 301). The overall message I t...
Read more

Musical Development of the 16th Century

-
Image
Reading  Madrigal Music by composer Jacques Arcadelt  During the 16th century, the Renaissance produced major musical development through sacred and secular music.       Sacred music generally involved the musical form of the motet or mass, while secular music involved the rise of instrumental music and dance music using madrigals. Secular music was intended for a non religious audience, while the sacred music serves a specific religious purpose.       When describing the new styles arising in the Northern renaissance, many of these new styles were expanded upon many of the musical forms developed in the early Renaissance and High Middle Ages. "Composers also continued to write madrigals (songs for three or more solo voices based generally on secular poems).. This increasing complexity produced a significant change in character of madrigals, which were especially popular in Elizabethan England"(Cunnigham). The advancement of the ma...
Read more

Working Stiff by Ruth Kempster

-
Image
     I went and visited the Crocker Art Museum located in Sacramento, California. I was surprised with how many beautiful pieces of art were presented from so many different era's and locations.    After consideration, I choose to research and analyze the painting titled Working Stiff   by Ruth Miller Kempster. Miller was an American artist, born in 1904 and passed away in 1978. This painting was done with oil on the canvas, created in 1934. The subject of this painting involves the height of the Great Depression. The museum label stated, "Dominating the composition is a young man with a downward gaze. His strong, once-working hands, now seem to have little to do" (Crocker). This man in the painting is seemingly unemployed and exhausted from the toll the great depression provided.  Working Stiff By Ruth Miller Kempster  Crocker Art  Museum        I choos...
Read more