Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
What are the HIDDEN MEANINGS in this impossible Tudor portrait, entitled An Allegory of the Tudor Succession: The Family of Henry VIII? Why does it show four of the five Tudor monarchs (Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I), plus Mary’s husband, Philip II of Spain, even though in reality the five never met at the same time and their ages and clothing as shown in the picture are mostly incompatible with true history?
In this art history documentary from History Calling I set about decoding the secrets of this impossible picture. Why are the Tudors positioned in this way, with Henry in the centre, even though Elizabeth was on the throne at the time it was painted? Why is the then Queen on his left, at the far side of the picture, arguably the place of least honour? Why is Edward still a young child here, instead of the boy of fifteen he was when he died? Why are none of Henry VIII’s wives present? Who are the classical figures standing to the left and right of the image? What do they represent, what is the significance of the sword Henry VIII is passing to Edward VI and what does the inscription around the picture’s border mean?
I’ll also look at a near copy of the picture. The original was painted in 1572 supposedly by Lucus de Heere and now hangs at Sudeley Castle, having originally been a gift from Elizabeth I to Sir Francis Walsingham. The copy was painted by an anonymous artist in c. 1590 and now hangs on the wall of the Yale Centre for British Art in New Haven, Connecticut. How do they compare to each other and to other famous Tudor portraits including the Family of Henry VIII which is held at Hampton Court Palace? I’ll discuss the vandalism to the copy too and how it has been conserved over the years.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
HIDDEN MESSAGES WITHIN FAMOUS PAINTING OF HENRY VIII AND HIS CHILDREN
youtu.be/Eiq5QomXJ5E
WILL SOMMER – HENRY VIII’S FOOL
youtu.be/gu5hQIl_-Z0
ART HISTORY PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0Eh4LJzcqLO_ayueqJt8ao-
TUDOR MONARCHS’ PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0FD_vatnjVq9egboPYy8Kg0
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
DJI Drone: amzn.to/38h1vXr (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/39hROZm (US LINK)
Go-Pro Hero 10 camera: amzn.to/3EPIK9U (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rTWScL (US LINK)
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/37CdC1r (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3vaVxjU (US LINK)
Memory Card: amzn.to/36QvcOQ (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3KeLZZs (US LINK)
Microphone: amzn.to/3MFtoaK (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rYtjH8 (US LINK)
BUY OR RENT:
The Tudors, season 1
amzn.to/2VCwQ0j
The Tudors, season 2
amzn.to/2VMPnHw
The Tudors, season 3
amzn.to/3BijsPB
The Tudors, season 4
amzn.to/3z16S58
Becoming Elizabeth, season 1 (Starz, 2022)
amzn.to/3MSn2Ei
Elizabeth I and Her Enemies (2017)
amzn.to/3tApusk
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
amzn.to/3MKyMJ6
Elizabeth (1998)
amzn.to/3ofW6UD
Elizabeth I (2006)
amzn.to/3NRqPTX
Elizabeth I – The Virgin Queen (2006)
amzn.to/3xkDBDi
Elizabeth R (1972)
amzn.to/3xu1CaV
Henry VIII and his Six Wives (2016 docu-drama)
amzn.to/3jiCkag
Six Wives with Lucy Worsley (2016 docu-drama)
amzn.to/3wH2mr2
Thumbnail: An Allegory of the Tudor Succession: The Family of Henry VIII, Yale Centre for British Art, public domain
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
What are the HIDDEN MEANINGS in this impossible Tudor portrait, entitled An Allegory of the Tudor Succession: The Family of Henry VIII? Why does it show four of the five Tudor monarchs (Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I), plus Mary’s husband, Philip II of Spain, even though in reality the five never met at the same time and their ages and clothing as shown in the picture are mostly incompatible with true history?
In this art history documentary from History Calling I set about decoding the secrets of this impossible picture. Why are the Tudors positioned in this way, with Henry in the centre, even though Elizabeth was on the throne at the time it was painted? Why is the then Queen on his left, at the far side of the picture, arguably the place of least honour? Why is Edward still a young child here, instead of the boy of fifteen he was when he died? Why are none of Henry VIII’s wives present? Who are the classical figures standing to the left and right of the image? What do they represent, what is the significance of the sword Henry VIII is passing to Edward VI and what does the inscription around the picture’s border mean?
I’ll also look at a near copy of the picture. The original was painted in 1572 supposedly by Lucus de Heere and now hangs at Sudeley Castle, having originally been a gift from Elizabeth I to Sir Francis Walsingham. The copy was painted by an anonymous artist in c. 1590 and now hangs on the wall of the Yale Centre for British Art in New Haven, Connecticut. How do they compare to each other and to other famous Tudor portraits including the Family of Henry VIII which is held at Hampton Court Palace? I’ll discuss the vandalism to the copy too and how it has been conserved over the years.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
HIDDEN MESSAGES WITHIN FAMOUS PAINTING OF HENRY VIII AND HIS CHILDREN
youtu.be/Eiq5QomXJ5E
WILL SOMMER – HENRY VIII’S FOOL
youtu.be/gu5hQIl_-Z0
ART HISTORY PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0Eh4LJzcqLO_ayueqJt8ao-
TUDOR MONARCHS’ PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0FD_vatnjVq9egboPYy8Kg0
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
DJI Drone: amzn.to/38h1vXr (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/39hROZm (US LINK)
Go-Pro Hero 10 camera: amzn.to/3EPIK9U (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rTWScL (US LINK)
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/37CdC1r (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3vaVxjU (US LINK)
Memory Card: amzn.to/36QvcOQ (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3KeLZZs (US LINK)
Microphone: amzn.to/3MFtoaK (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rYtjH8 (US LINK)
BUY OR RENT:
The Tudors, season 1
amzn.to/2VCwQ0j
The Tudors, season 2
amzn.to/2VMPnHw
The Tudors, season 3
amzn.to/3BijsPB
The Tudors, season 4
amzn.to/3z16S58
Becoming Elizabeth, season 1 (Starz, 2022)
amzn.to/3MSn2Ei
Elizabeth I and Her Enemies (2017)
amzn.to/3tApusk
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
amzn.to/3MKyMJ6
Elizabeth (1998)
amzn.to/3ofW6UD
Elizabeth I (2006)
amzn.to/3NRqPTX
Elizabeth I – The Virgin Queen (2006)
amzn.to/3xkDBDi
Elizabeth R (1972)
amzn.to/3xu1CaV
Henry VIII and his Six Wives (2016 docu-drama)
amzn.to/3jiCkag
Six Wives with Lucy Worsley (2016 docu-drama)
amzn.to/3wH2mr2
Thumbnail: An Allegory of the Tudor Succession: The Family of Henry VIII, Yale Centre for British Art, public domain
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
