Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
This INSANE looking portrait of Edward VI was most likely painted by William Scrots in 154? when the future King of England and only surviving son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour was still the Prince of Wales. It contains an anamorphic optical illusion which makes it appear distended and bizarre looking from the front, but when viewed from just the right angle to the right of the image, it resolves into a normal looking bust portrait of the once and future King.
In today’s Tudor history documentary from History Calling, I take you through the incredible feat of artistry that is this painting, explaining how and why it was created, how we know that Scrots painted it, what the text around the edge says and how we know that the background isn’t original. I’ll also tell you about its journey from the ownership of the last Tudor King, Edward VI, to the present day, including accounts of those who saw it in Whitehall Palace during the Tudor era and how it was sold off by the Parliamentarians after the English Civil War, but managed to survive the ravages of time. I’ll tell you a little more about Anamorphosis too, including the reference to it in William Shakespeare’s play, Richard III.
This video about a famous Tudor painting is especially appropriate for anyone with an interest in art history, the history of the Tudor family or in understanding how optical illusions work. It will also include some details about the life of Edward VI.
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:
THE LIFE OF KING EDWARD VI
youtu.be/dPG-tlvuShM
HIDDEN MESSAGES WITHIN FAMOUS PORTRAIT OF HENRY VIII AND HIS CHILDREN
youtu.be/Eiq5QomXJ5E
ART HISTORY PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0Eh4LJzcqLO_ayueqJt8ao-
TUDOR MONARCHS’ PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0FD_vatnjVq9egboPYy8Kg0
DOES THE CHEQUERS’ RING SHOW A PORTRAIT OF ANNE BOLEYN?
youtu.be/hvgl1Wbjw1I
LEARN MORE:
60 second video from National Portrait Gallery showing how the portrait was created
youtube.com/watch?v=MyWoY4-NVZM
Tarnya Cooper, Searching for Shakespeare (2006)
amzn.to/3QOBq5F
Roy Strong, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits (1969)
amzn.to/4dj6Pql
Antonia Fraser, The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (2nd edn, Phoenix, 2009)
amzn.to/36IqD5r
David Starkey, Six Wives: the Queens of Henry VIII (Vintage, 2004)
amzn.to/3wImKIh
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
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
AUDIBLE
amzn.to/44MvlMi
AUDIBLE PLUS & AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS
amzn.to/42rh3PF
PRIME VIDEO
amzn.to/3LW7ykg
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)
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.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
#EdwardVI #TudorHistory #Tudorart
This INSANE looking portrait of Edward VI was most likely painted by William Scrots in 154? when the future King of England and only surviving son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour was still the Prince of Wales. It contains an anamorphic optical illusion which makes it appear distended and bizarre looking from the front, but when viewed from just the right angle to the right of the image, it resolves into a normal looking bust portrait of the once and future King.
In today’s Tudor history documentary from History Calling, I take you through the incredible feat of artistry that is this painting, explaining how and why it was created, how we know that Scrots painted it, what the text around the edge says and how we know that the background isn’t original. I’ll also tell you about its journey from the ownership of the last Tudor King, Edward VI, to the present day, including accounts of those who saw it in Whitehall Palace during the Tudor era and how it was sold off by the Parliamentarians after the English Civil War, but managed to survive the ravages of time. I’ll tell you a little more about Anamorphosis too, including the reference to it in William Shakespeare’s play, Richard III.
This video about a famous Tudor painting is especially appropriate for anyone with an interest in art history, the history of the Tudor family or in understanding how optical illusions work. It will also include some details about the life of Edward VI.
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:
THE LIFE OF KING EDWARD VI
youtu.be/dPG-tlvuShM
HIDDEN MESSAGES WITHIN FAMOUS PORTRAIT OF HENRY VIII AND HIS CHILDREN
youtu.be/Eiq5QomXJ5E
ART HISTORY PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0Eh4LJzcqLO_ayueqJt8ao-
TUDOR MONARCHS’ PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0FD_vatnjVq9egboPYy8Kg0
DOES THE CHEQUERS’ RING SHOW A PORTRAIT OF ANNE BOLEYN?
youtu.be/hvgl1Wbjw1I
LEARN MORE:
60 second video from National Portrait Gallery showing how the portrait was created
youtube.com/watch?v=MyWoY4-NVZM
Tarnya Cooper, Searching for Shakespeare (2006)
amzn.to/3QOBq5F
Roy Strong, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits (1969)
amzn.to/4dj6Pql
Antonia Fraser, The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (2nd edn, Phoenix, 2009)
amzn.to/36IqD5r
David Starkey, Six Wives: the Queens of Henry VIII (Vintage, 2004)
amzn.to/3wImKIh
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
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
AUDIBLE
amzn.to/44MvlMi
AUDIBLE PLUS & AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS
amzn.to/42rh3PF
PRIME VIDEO
amzn.to/3LW7ykg
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)
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.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
#EdwardVI #TudorHistory #Tudorart
