Mark Satchwill Art Historical Portraits:The Tudors One

"Young Henry VIII"

ACEO, 2.5 x 2.5 inches, watercolor, gouache and gold ink, 2007

Henry was born in 1491, the son of henry VII, the first Tudor monarch, and his wife Elizabeth of York, He was their third child. He had an elder brother, Arthur. Henry was bright and well educated, musical and also a sportsman, enjoying tennis and jousting. His elder brother had married Catherine of Aragon in 1501, when 15. Five months later he was dead (of what is uncertain) and Henry became heir to the throne. It was decided that Henry should marry his elder brothers widow, Catherine, though she was six years older than him. Catherine insisted that her marriage to Arthur had not been consummated and the Pope granted a dispensation allowing them to wed. However it was not until 1509 that they finally did so, after Henry VII's death and two weeks before Henry and Catherine were crowned King and Queen. The controversial question of Catherine's virginity and whether her previous marriage had been consummated would later become hugely significant..

"Katherine Of Aragon"

ACEO, 2.5 x 2.5 inches, watercolor, gouache and gold ink, 2007

Katharine of Aragon was the first wife of Henry VIII. She had been married to Henry's older brother, Arthur when she was 16,in 1501, but a short time later Arthur became ill and died. It was then agreed that Katherine should be betrothed to Henry, as she had stated that the marriage to Arthur had never been consummated. This would become of great significance. She and Henry were wed in 1509, after he became King. They were married for 18 years and in that time Katherine was only able to give Henry one surviving child, a daughter, Mary (later to become Mary Tuder or "Bloody Mary"). Henry was desperate for male heirs and by 1527 was looking for ways to escape the marriage. He believed that by marrying his brother's former wife they were cursed. He was also deeply enamoured with Anne Boleyn. The Pope refused to annul the marriage and he situation led to the English Reformation, the break from Rome and the setting up of the Church of England with Henry at it's head. He had separated from Katharine in 1531 and then married Anne in 1533, even though his mariage to Katherine was not formally annulled until 4 months later.Katherine was a devout and pious woman who never accepted the new Church or that her marriage was over, despite being banished from Court and forced to live in much reduced circumstances. She died of cancer in 1536, signing letters as "Katharine the Queen" until her death.

"Anne Boleyn"

ACEO, 2.5 x 2.5 inches, watercolor, gouache and gold ink, 2007

Anne Boleyn was Henry VIII's second wife and arguably the most famous. Her exact date of birth is unknown, but after spending several years in the French Court as a lady- in-waiting she returned to England in 1521 making her court debut in 1522. While not considered conventionally beautiful for the time (red/blonde and pale were considered attractive) she was intelligent and vivacious and accomplished at music and dancing. She was also ambitious and realised that if she succumbed to the king easily she would soon be tossed aside. Her refusal to be seduced only stoked Henry's fire. By 1528 he had proposed and she had accepted - the problem was Katherine of Aragon (see previous painting). This situation brought about the break with Rome, the formation of the Church of England and the Dissolution of the Monasteries when the wealth of the Church was appropriated by Henry. It also allowed him to divorce Katherine and marry Anne in 1533. She gave birth to a daughter, later to become Elizabeth I, later that year. However the relationship with Henry was already showing signs of strain. She was interested in political and religious reform, and was opinionated - she would often argue with the King. In 1536 she had a miscarriage and lost a son. Anne's downfall has caused much discussion and controvery. It is generally agreed that the charges of adultery, incest , treason and witchcraft that she was charged with and found guilty of were false and she was innocent. Anne was found guilty and was sentenced to burn, but Henry commuted the sentence to beheading. Rather than by axe, Anne was beheaded by a sword in 1536, a French swordsman brought to England for that purpose.