oil painting
- Museum number
- Painting.17
- Description
-
Portrait of King Henry VIII (1491-1547), H.L., turned half-r., eyes looking full, wearing richly embroidered doublet, hat with a feather and a chain. Oil painting on panel.
- Production date
- 17thC-18thC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 47 centimetres
-
Width: 34.30 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Dr Andrew Gifford DD (1700-84), a Baptist Minister, was the BM's first numismatist and also the first Assistant Librarian in the Department of Manuscripts. During his time at the Museum he donated a number of oil paintings of historical figures, some of which were transferred to the National Portrait Gallery in 1879. The identities of some of the sitters have subsequently been queried.
It has been suggested that this is an 18th century copy of better-known paintings by Holbein. There are similarities, but the subject seems to be younger and thinner, with a less forceful appearance. It was however displayed during the 18th and 19th centuries as ‘Henry VIII’.
The painting, in the 1st compartment of the Eastern Zoological Gallery is described in List of Paintings... (1842, 1879) as 'King Henry VIII. On panel. Presented by Dr A Gifford in
1758'.
In The Times, 27 November 1838, the writer who is not always accurate, states 'The next [i.e. 2nd on the left on entering the Eastern Zoological Gallery] Henry VIII, when in his 30th year; it is by Holbein, and was also given by the same gentleman [Dr A Gifford]'. This attribution is not supported in the P&D records.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Montagu House (1761)
Eastern Zoological Gallery (1842, 1879)
Department of British & Medieval Antiquities.
- Condition
- Repaired and glazed by Buttery, 1894.
When conserved at the NG in the early 1990s this panel was affectionately attributed to "The Master of the Henry VIII pub signs".
Sent to the National Gallery for conservation in 1992.
- Acquisition date
- 1758
- Acquisition notes
- Book of Presents December 15, 1758: “The Pourtraits of King Henry the eighth, Mary Queen of Scots, King James I, Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles the first, the Duke of Buckingham when young, and three others unknown from Dr Andrew Gifford.
This is one of a series of historical portraits, given to the Museum in 1758 by Dr Andrew Gifford who joined the staff in 1756 as the Museum’s first numismatist. In the early years of the Museum Gifford donated a number of portraits, some of historical interest, and others like the ‘unknowns’ listed here most probably intended to decorate the walls.
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- Painting.17